China is losing the LLM race but it can still win in AI, ex-Tencent AI lead says

scmp.com May 22, 2026

China is losing the LLM race but it can still win in AI, ex-Tencent AI lead says

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · May 22, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Former Tencent AI lead Liu Wei says China is losing the large language model race, citing a lack of technical breakthroughs, or "paradigm" innovations. Liu notes Chinese companies are copying US firms at the core technical level, failing to push the frontier. Despite narrowing benchmark scores, Liu believes the gap in real-world usefulness remains. China can still win in AI, but needs to innovate. Liu's comments come after his departure from Tencent in 2024, sparking speculation about China's AI industry.

💡 Why It Matters

· China's inability to innovate in AI could leave it reliant on foreign technology, undermining its tech ambitions.
· Liu's comments highlight the need for domestic innovation to stay competitive.

AI Capsules LLMs

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