China has expanded its lead over the United States in terms of AI patent filings, according to data from the World Intellectual Property Organization tracked by Bloomberg. In 2022, Chinese companies and institutions applied for a total of 29,853 AI-related patents, an increase from 29,000 in the previous year. This figure is nearly 80% higher than the number of US filings, which amounted to 16,805 over the same period. However, the US experienced a decline of 5.5% in its filings compared to the previous year.
China’s dominance in AI patent filings is further illustrated by the fact that Japan and South Korea, the next highest filers, only applied for 8,870 and 7,899 AI patents respectively in 2022. These numbers show that China accounts for over 40% of global AI applications in the past year.
The surge in Chinese AI patent filings can be attributed to the country’s increased investments in AI and quantum computing. President Xi Jinping’s call to accelerate fundamental scientific research has prompted Chinese companies to bolster their efforts in these areas. The Chinese government aims to enhance self-reliance in critical fields such as chipmaking, space exploration, and military sciences.
One specific area of competition between China and the US is in the development of AI chatbots. Chinese multinational technology company Baidu, along with other tech giants like Alibaba Group and Tencent, as well as startups including Baichuan and Zhipu, are vying to create a domestic response to OpenAI’s renowned generative AI chatbot ChatGPT.
Notably, Chinese tech firms like Huawei Technologies have already demonstrated their ability to lead in innovation in sectors such as networking, supercomputing, and image recognition. The country has been ahead of the US in terms of AI filings since 2017, when Chinese companies began deploying algorithms in various industries, from online shopping to ride-hailing.
These findings come amidst the US government’s ongoing efforts to limit China’s access to advanced technologies. The measures aim to curb China’s technological advancements and maintain a competitive edge. As the race for AI dominance continues, China’s increasing lead in AI patent filings reflects its commitment to innovation and technological progress.
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