China’s AI is truly artifical – and the US must fight Xi’s zero-sum tech race and stolen advancements
nypost.com May 13, 2026

China’s AI is truly artifical – and the US must fight Xi’s zero-sum tech race and stolen advancements

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

China's artificial intelligence progress relies heavily on theft and smuggling, with the Chinese Communist Party maintaining tight control. Ahead of the Beijing summit, Xi Jinping aims to lead the world in AI, despite the US accusing China of "industrial-scale" theft of know-how from American AI labs. The US has busted a smuggling ring funneling advanced chips to China, a country which is blocking a $2 billion takeover of a Chinese AI start-up.

💡 Why It Matters

  • · China's AI theft poses significant national security risks, as "distilled" apps lack safeguards against using AI for destructive activities.
  • · Beijing's smuggling network undermines US restrictions on high-end tech sales.