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China Aims for a 50 Percent Increase in Computing Power as the AI Competition with the U.S. Intensifies

China Aims for a 50% Increase in Computing Power

By Admin on October 18, 2023

China Aims for a 50 Percent Increase in Computing Power as the AI Competition with the U.S. Intensifies image
<p>China has unveiled ambitious plans to bolster its computing power by an impressive 50% by the year 2025, according to a joint announcement from several key government ministries. This strategic move is aimed at positioning China at the forefront of the global race in artificial intelligence (AI) and supercomputing applications, as it seeks to keep pace with the United States.</p><p><br></p><p>Currently, China boasts a substantial computing capacity of 197 exaflops, with an exaflop representing a unit of computing power. For context, one exaflop is equivalent to the combined computing power of two million mainstream laptop computers, underscoring the colossal scale of this endeavor. The country's aspiration is to elevate its computing prowess to a staggering 300 exaflops, a significant leap that underscores China's determination to maintain its competitive edge in AI and related technologies.</p><p><br></p>


<p>The ministries involved in this initiative, including the influential cyberspace regulator, believe that this increased computing power will be indispensable to support applications across various industries, particularly finance and education. Such an expansion is pivotal for the development of artificial intelligence, as it necessitates advanced semiconductors capable of processing vast amounts of data efficiently.</p><p><br></p><p>Akshara Bassi, a senior research analyst at Counterpoint, highlighted the economic impact of this move, stating, "China has found that traditionally, every 1 yuan invested in computing power has driven 3-4 yuan of economic output." This underscores the government's strategic approach to leveraging technology and AI to enhance economic growth across all sectors.</p><p><br></p><p>The intensifying tech rivalry between the United States and China has elevated technologies like semiconductors and AI to the status of key battlegrounds. China is keen to invest significantly in expanding its computing power, especially in the realm of AI, aligning with the efforts of major cloud providers in launching AI solutions for both consumers and enterprises.</p><p><br></p><p>To achieve its computing ambitions, China is honing in on critical areas such as memory storage, data transmission networks, and the construction of additional data centers. These infrastructure developments are crucial, as cloud computing plays a pivotal role in delivering AI applications, with Chinese giants like Alibaba and Tencent at the forefront.</p><p><br></p><p>Acknowledging the importance of supply chain security, the Chinese ministries have also laid out plans to fortify it. The nation's technology supply chain has faced challenges due to U.S. export controls and sanctions aimed at curbing China's access to vital technologies, particularly semiconductor chips. As a response, China has embarked on initiatives to bolster its domestic industries in areas affected by these restrictions.</p><p><br></p>


<p>While China's ambitions to expand its computing power are substantial, challenges persist. U.S. sanctions, particularly those restricting access to critical semiconductors like graphics processing units (GPUs) from companies like Nvidia, could pose hurdles. The acquisition of the latest and most advanced AI chips and GPUs remains a primary obstacle, and resolving this issue will be critical to China's success in expanding its AI data centers and maintaining its competitiveness in the global tech arena.</p><p><br></p><p>Subscribe to the <a href="https://www.seekme.ai/subscribe/newsletter" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">SEEKME newsletter</a> today to start receiving monthly updates that include the most recent insights, case studies, and research on artificial intelligence, delivered directly to your email inbox. Stay at the forefront of the AI world!</p><p><br></p>