Eric Schmidt scores US vs. China: who’s winning the AI race?

The AI race between the United States and China stands as the defining competition of the current era, with the technological gap narrowing to approximately six months. While the U.S. leads in model performance, talent, and safety frameworks, China leverages its massive energy infrastructure and aggressive deployment strategies to gain global influence. The strategic divide between U.S.-led closed-source models and China’s open-source approach creates significant geopolitical implications, particularly as software costs approach zero. Rather than a zero-sum game, the future of AI requires rational collaboration, including "no surprise" protocols for safety and security. Business leaders must move beyond passive observation, as integrating AI into core functions like finance and manufacturing is now essential for maintaining competitiveness in an environment where AI-driven scientific progress will fundamentally reshape society.