The U.S. is the world leader in artificial intelligence, surpassing China in research and other key innovation indicators in the AI field. This is according to a new ranking by Stanford University, reported by TechExplore.
There is no definitive way to measure global leadership in AI, but Stanford researchers attempted to assess the “activity” in the AI industry based on various factors, including research volume, investments, and how responsibly the technology is used to prevent harm.
“The gap is actually widening” between the U.S. and China, said computer scientist Ray Perro, director of the committee managing Stanford’s AI index. “The U.S. is investing far more, at least at the level of creating and funding companies.”
The Institute for Anthropocentric AI at the University of California, linked to Silicon Valley’s tech industry, released a report on Thursday. This week, U.S. government officials and several allies met in San Francisco to discuss AI safety measures.
Here are the top countries in the ranking:
United States
The U.S. ranks first on Stanford’s list and has held this position consistently since 2018, when it surpassed China. According to the report, the U.S. far outpaces China in private AI investments, with $67.2 billion in AI investments last year, compared to $7.8 billion in China. The U.S. also leads in publishing responsible AI research.
It’s no surprise that the U.S. — home to commercial AI giants like Google and Meta, as well as relative newcomers like OpenAI and Anthropic — has developed many notable AI models that have shaped how the technology is developed and applied. The U.S. also scores points for having a number of AI-related laws, although Congress has not yet passed any comprehensive AI regulations.
United Arab Emirates
The UAE’s deliberate focus on AI appears to have paid off, as the Middle Eastern nation ranks fifth. It is one of the best places for AI investments. Earlier this year, Microsoft announced it would invest $1.5 billion in the UAE-based tech firm G42, which is overseen by a prominent national security advisor. Based in Abu Dhabi, G42 operates data centers and has created what is considered the world’s leading Arabic-language AI model, called Jais.
The Rest of the Top 10
France ranks sixth, followed by South Korea, Germany, Japan, and Singapore. France, home to the popular AI startup Mistral, earned a high ranking in AI policy and governance. Both France and Germany are part of the European Union’s new comprehensive AI Act, which sets safety measures for various AI applications based on their risk levels. The EU is also following the U.S. in developing a plan to expand semiconductor manufacturing within the bloc.
