China's AI Industrial Policy with Kyle Chan

In this episode of The AI Policy Podcast, Gregory Allen interviews Kyle Chan, a postdoctoral researcher at Princeton University and adjunct researcher at the Rand Corporation, about China's industrial policy for AI. Chan discusses his background and how sociology provides a unique lens for understanding industrial policy and US-China relations. The conversation covers the history of industrial policy in China, its evolution from a command economy to a market-oriented approach, and the role of five-year plans. They delve into the rise of digital technology companies like Alibaba and Baidu, the impact of the Great Firewall, and China's focus on AI after 2012, particularly in surveillance and machine vision. Chan explains the 2017 AI strategy, the tools China uses to achieve its goals, including building data centers, state-backed AI labs, and government guidance funds. The discussion also touches on intellectual property protection, competition policy, and the potential future trajectories of China's AI industry, including the challenges posed by US export controls and the need for self-sufficiency.