The Danger of Exaggerating Chinaâs Technological Prowess
The conventional wisdom about Beijingâs supposed advantages in AI and 5G shows how incomplete tech knowledge can lead to policy mistakes
A screen demonstrates facial-recognition technology at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference, Shanghai, China, Aug. 29, 2019. Photo: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg News By Peter Cowhey and Susan Shirk Jan. 8, 2021 9:56 am ET
The U.S.-China relationship will be the great geopolitical rivalry of the early 21st century, and every facet of the competition will involve the two big powersâ capabilities in science and technology. Figures from across the political spectrum worry about a technology race with China, and many Americans fear that China has already surpassed us in such frontier technologies as artificial intelligence and 5G broadband communications. âChina has stolen a march and is now leadin