China has just made another aggressive push in its AI race with America
China is dangling a very enticing offer in front of some of the world’s best minds as the superpower aggressively ramps up its historic race against the US.
China has rolled out a bold new visa program designed to attract foreign experts in science and technology.
It’s all part of Beijing’s aggressive push to rival the United States in high-end innovation, particularly as Silicon Valley invests heavily in AI development.
Industry experts liken the current Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) race with the US to the frantic rush towards the nuclear bomb at the end of WWII. Nobody knows exactly how the world will look like once it is built, only that the nation it emerges from will have unparalleled global power for the next century, or longer.
Creepy new videos of astonishingly lifelike Chinese-made robots continue to roll in every week, but the big money appears to still be in the US when it comes to AI.
China has made serious inroads, though. The launch of DeepSeek in January dealt the first serious blow to the US’ global leadership in the space, with the ensuing tech sell-off wiping about $US1 trillion ($A1.5 trillion) in value off American titan Nvidia.
The Trump administration earlier this year announced a $US500bn investment in AI, eclipsing all other countries as the clear frontrunner.
About the same time, China launched a AI investment fund with an initial $8.2bn.
But with DeepSeek free and offering capabilities comparable to American counterpart OpenAI, the AI race may not be won by those who simply shell out the most cash.
Visa scheme to poach tech genii
The K visa streamlines the immigration process for overseas talent, according to Chinese state media. Unlike many other visa categories, applicants are not required to secure an invitation from a domestic employer or institution.
“Against the backdrop of some countries retracting, turning inward, and sidelining international talent, China has keenly seized this important opportunity and promptly introduced this policy,” the People’s Daily said in a commentary on Tuesday.
Xinhua reported the visas would provide “more convenience” for holders, including multiple entries, longer validity periods and extended stays. Successful applicants will also be able to participate in education, cultural and scientific exchanges, as well as entrepreneurial and business activities.
The official description lists eligibility as “young foreign scientific and technological talents,” though precise age, education and work experience requirements remain unclear.
H-1B visas are typically granted for three years, with the possibility of extension to six, and are widely used by the technology industry. Indian nationals account for nearly three-quarters of the permits granted each year through a lottery system.
Beijing’s move comes as Washington has unsettled the tech sector with unexpected changes to its own skilled worker visa program. The Trump administration last month introduced a one-time US$100,000 fee for H-1B visas, which allow US companies to employ foreign specialists such as engineers, computer programmers and scientists.
The People’s Daily dismissed speculation that China’s new visa could lead to broader immigration issues, labelling such claims “strange rumours.”
“The so-called ‘immigration crisis’ will not materialise, we should have cultural confidence,” it said.
It came shortly after Chinese ambassador Xiao Qian announced Beijing was keen to take a “more open attitude” to the free-trade agreement with Australia.
Mr Xiao said that included bolstering “co-operation in traditional areas such as agriculture and mining” but also exploring “new growth areas in emerging fields like artificial intelligence” – a convenient offer against a backdrop of fierce AI competition with the US.
China’s AI innovations
China already introduced us to the brave new world of 24/7 robot-run manufacturing late last year. Consumer electronics company Xiaomi unveiled its next-generation smart factory to the world, showcasing a fully automated, AI-driven facility that has raised the bar for efficiency, precision, and sustainability.
Dubbed a “dark factory”, the facility runs every second of the day without human intervention, integrating AI and big data to streamline production.
Robots have been assembling things like vehicles and electronics for decades, but the sudden shift away from flesh and bone on the factory floor has given us another uneasy glimpse into the future of employment.
The disruption is, again, hard to quantify.
Just about everyone in a job that involves a computer will be impacted as the natural forces of capitalism blend with artificial intelligence. There is widespread worry among some in the tech sector who believe we have moved too fast to adjust.
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Late last year, the United Nations hit the pause button on letting the unchecked powers of artificial intelligence rule the roost, urging global co-operation instead of simply letting market forces steer the way forward.
In a report published ahead of the UN’s highly anticipated “Summit of the Future,” experts sounded the alarm about the current lack of international oversight on AI, a technology that’s stirring up concerns around misuse, biases, and humanity’s growing dependence on it.
But even as international watchdogs scramble to put a lid on it all, the US and China are continuing their relentless tug of war for technological supremacy.
