**China’s AI Ambitions: A Young Boy and His Chess Robot** In a Beijing apartment, eight-year-old Timmy is engrossed in a chess match against an AI-powered robot that has become his new companion. Despite struggling to win, Timmy treasures his interactions with the robot, which gives him playful feedback and promises improvement next time. While he hasn't named it yet, he views it as both a teacher and a friend. China is aggressively pursuing artificial intelligence (AI) to become a tech superpower by 2030, with significant investments fueling a booming industry. Over 4, 500 companies are focused on AI development, and educational institutions are incorporating AI courses for students this year. Timmy's mother, Yan Xue, believes it's crucial for children to familiarize themselves with AI technology early on. She is enthusiastic about the robot's capabilities and considers it a worthwhile investment. The Chinese Communist Party has championed AI as a vital component of national progress since 2017, leveraging recent setbacks in the economy by accelerating tech advancements.

Beijing plans to inject 10 trillion yuan (approximately $1. 4 trillion) into AI over the next 15 years, while firms like DeepSeek have garnered attention by showing that Chinese companies can innovate despite international trade barriers. Tommy Tang of SenseRobot, the company behind Timmy's chess robot, highlights the public's surprise at finding such advanced tech originating from China instead of the West. With over 100, 000 robot units sold, SenseRobot has agreements with major retailers like Costco. China’s robust educational system, producing millions of STEM graduates yearly, is critical to its tech competitiveness. As China showcases its AI innovations, including competitive humanoid robots, concerns arise regarding data privacy and government oversight. The rapid growth of AI technologies has drawn scrutiny from Western nations, prompting fears over how data from Chinese platforms might be utilized. Despite these issues, Chinese firms remain confident in their innovative capabilities. As President Xi Jinping emphasizes “technological self-reliance, ” China aims to create its own advanced chips to mitigate the effects of US export restrictions. The country may be in "catch-up mode, " but it is poised for long-term competition in the global AI landscape, with the hope of emerging as a future leader in this field.