China Narrows U.S. Lead in Global AI Race Amid Talent Surge, Legal Challenges, and Calls for U.S. Strategy

China is rapidly closing the gap with the United States in the global artificial intelligence (AI) race, challenging American dominance in the sector. Chinese AI models are gaining popularity worldwide, with powerful and accessible offerings that are increasingly adopted by major corporations and governments. This trend is eroding the U.S.'s previously strong hold on AI technology and setting the stage for intensified global competition. Contributing factors to America's waning lead include restrictive copyright lawsuits and underutilization of data. Notably, half of the world's top AI researchers are based in China, raising questions about Beijing's ability to retain this talent. Experts emphasize the need for Washington to develop a comprehensive strategy to manage multifaceted AI competition, cautioning that success in one area could expose vulnerabilities in others. The AI race is viewed as a critical front in technological dominance leading up to 2030, with some describing it as a high-stakes contest comparable to an arms race.