In an interview with the Economist’s Editor in Chief Zanny Minton Beddoes, Elon Musk said that China may become the world leader in AI. The only thing now preventing it is China’s less computing power. But that could change.
China already has the big advantage in electricity production versus the U.S. by a lot:
China could develop its chips and increase its compute, as the Wall Street Journal just reported on China’s ambitions. If it does, that’s when China may surpass the U.S., in Musk’s view.
What U.S. 100% tariffs on Chinese EVs tell us about AI
Musk was also against the U.S. banning China open-weight models. That could only apply to the United States and others around the world could still use China AI models.
Of course, one comparison to make is with EVs: China EVs are basically shut out of the U.S. market. Nonetheless, the U.S. government continues to impose a market-shutting 100% tariff on all Chinese EVs. That benefits Musk’s Tesla the most in the United States. Other people in the world can still buy Chinese EVs. China is the global leader in EVs, accounting for 75% of global production.
Some critics may interpret this EV example as cutting against trying to do something similar with AI models. While shutting out Chinese EVs from the U.S. market helps Tesla, it hurts American consumers who would be able to buy the cheaper and more advanced Chinese EVs.
Yesterday’s chorus of coordinated statements from prominent US AI CEOs seemed to agree with that fear: “With the right choices, open weight AI can expand opportunity, strengthen competition, extend American technological leadership, mitigate risk, and ensure that the benefits of this extraordinary technology are shared broadly across our economy. That future is worth building, and the United States should lead in building it.”
Related Stories
