Rise of China as an Artificial Intelligence Power: Evolution, Explanation and Implications

China’s position as an artificial intelligence (AI) leader is remarkable as it has nurtured a globally competitive ecosystem. Moreover, open-source programs developed in China are being adopted globally. This success is surprising when considered against the background of China’s previous relatively weak position in software and other advanced technologies. The chapter examines the process by which China became a global AI leader. We trace the development and governance strategies the Chinese government and firms adopted to become globally competitive. We assess China’s position in a world where divergent artificial intelligence innovation models and ecosystems are emerging and how this may affect global AI development and governance.