<o:p>The West should not think or assume that China is lagging behind the US and Europe on technological developments, Microsoft’s president and vice-chairman warned according to a detailed report by CNBC.</o:p>

US and China tensions in the past few years have centered on the battle between the two nations for technological supremacy, resulting in several export control measures&nbsp;on critical technologies from both the nations, the CNBC report explained further.<o:p></o:p>

Late last year, China’s Huawei took the market by shock with the release of a smartphone whose studied reviews indicated downloads speeds associated with 5G. This sparked&nbsp;speculation of an apparently clear chip breakthrough that defied US technological sanctions and hence resulted in further escalating tensions.&nbsp;

Speaking at the Web Summit technological conference in Lisbon, Portugal, on November 13, Microsoft’s Brad Smith told CNBC that “in many ways,” China is close to or is even catching up on technology.<o:p></o:p>

“I think one of the dangers, frankly, is that people who don’t go to China too often assume that they’re behind,” he told CNBC in an exclusive conversation. “But when you go there, you’re impressed by how much they’re doing.”<o:p></o:p>

Accordingly, he believes that Chinese and American companies will be competing on technology into the distant future and urged US and European companies to collaborate and to grow economies and bring new advancements like artificial intelligence to the rest of the world, detailed the CNBC report further.<o:p></o:p>

Microsoft has operated in China since 1992<o:p></o:p>

Microsoft has operated in China since 1992, according to the company’s website, including through its largest research and development center outside the US.

Further, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella elaborated last year that the firm wasn’t focused on China as a domestic market, but that it provides services to Chinese companies and has a more visible presence locally than do many other US technology giants.

<o:p>It is further anticipated that going ahead, issues related to technology transfer, movement of data, designs and innovations between the US and China will get more demanding and challenging for both the nations. Even as the US now moves towards a transition in administration from Biden to Trump.</o:p>

According to experts a clear business relationship between a US company and China is only possible, when the US offers a service that the Chinese government aspires to have and the US government is willing to allow such a transfer.

Therefore, as China further consolidates and closes the technological gap on the US, some more technology will move to China and this might continue to even propel the Chinese economy going ahead.&nbsp;

It is hence crucial to note that the gap between the US and China in terms of cutting-edge technology is rapidly reducing. This is bound to bring more challenges and difficulties for both the nations to adjust accordingly.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

The West should not think or assume that China is lagging behind the US and Europe on technological developments, Microsoft’s president and vice-chairman warned according to a detailed report by CNBC.

The West should not think or assume that China is lagging behind the US and Europe on technological developments, Microsoft’s president and vice-chairman warned according to a detailed report by CNBC. US and China tensions in the past few years have centered on the battle between the two nations for technological supremacy, resulting in several export control measures on critical technologies from both the nations, the CNBC report explained further. Late last year, China’s Huawei took the market by shock with the release of a smartphone whose studied reviews indicated downloads speeds associated with 5G. This sparked speculation of an apparently clear chip breakthrough that defied US technological sanctions and hence resulted in further escalating tensions. Speaking at the Web Summit technological conference in Lisbon, Portugal, on November 13, Microsoft’s Brad Smith told CNBC that “in many ways,” China is close to or is even catching up on technology. “I think one of the dangers, frankly, is that people who don’t go to China too often assume that they’re behind,” he told CNBC in an exclusive conversation. “But when you go there, you’re impressed by how much they’re doing.” Accordingly, he believes that Chinese and American companies will be competing on technology into the distant future and urged US and European companies to collaborate and to grow economies and bring new advancements like artificial intelligence to the rest of the world, detailed the CNBC report further. Microsoft has operated in China since 1992 Microsoft has operated in China since 1992, according to the company’s website, including through its largest research and development center outside the US. Further, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella elaborated last year that the firm wasn’t focused on China as a domestic market, but that it provides services to Chinese companies and has a more visible presence locally than do many other US technology giants. It is further anticipated that going ahead, issues related to technology transfer, movement of data, designs and innovations between the US and China will get more demanding and challenging for both the nations. Even as the US now moves towards a transition in administration from Biden to Trump. According to experts a clear business relationship between a US company and China is only possible, when the US offers a service that the Chinese government aspires to have and the US government is willing to allow such a transfer. Therefore, as China further consolidates and closes the technological gap on the US, some more technology will move to China and this might continue to even propel the Chinese economy going ahead. It is hence crucial to note that the gap between the US and China in terms of cutting-edge technology is rapidly reducing. This is bound to bring more challenges and difficulties for both the nations to adjust accordingly.

Microsoft President: China closing technology gap with the West

The US House Committee on Foreign Affairs&nbsp;voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to advance a bill aimed at loosening limitations on artificial intelligence (AI) exports, underscoring rising concerns that China could use the technology to strengthen its military capability.

The bill, supported by House Republicans Michael McCaul and John Molenaar, as well as Democrats Raja Krishnamoorthi and Susan Wild, seeks to give the Commerce Department the authority to prohibit Americans from collaborating with foreign entities in the development of AI systems that are deemed a threat to national security.

"Without this legislation, our top AI companies could inadvertently fuel China's technological ascent, empowering their military and malign ambitions," McCaul, who chairs the committee, warned on Wednesday.&nbsp;

"As the Chinese Communist Party looks to expand their technological advancements to enhance their surveillance state and war machine, we must protect our sensitive technology from falling into their hands," he stated.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

This legislation is the latest sign of Washington's intention to limit China's AI ambitions. There are concerns that Beijing could use AI to influence elections, manufacture bioweapons, or launch cyberattacks.&nbsp;

Last week, a bipartisan group of senators, led by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, pushed Congress to approve $32 billion in AI research spending to maintain the US edge over China.

President Joe Biden's administration is reportedly developing additional steps to protect US AI technologies from foes such as China and Russia. This comes after concerns were expressed during the first formal bilateral talks on AI usage with China in Geneva last week.

The bill passed the committee with 43 votes in favour and only three votes against. It now requires approval from both the House and the Senate before being signed into law by President Biden.&nbsp;

There is presently no counterpart bill in the Senate, and neither Schumer's office nor the White House has commented on their positions on the legislation. However, in recent years, bipartisan initiatives to challenge China's technology gains have grown in popularity.

(With inputs from Reuters)

The US House Committee on Foreign Affairs voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to advance a bill aimed at loosening limitations on artificial intelligence (AI) exports, underscoring rising concerns that China could use the technology to strengthen its military capability.

The US House Committee on Foreign Affairs voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to advance a bill aimed at loosening limitations on artificial intelligence (AI) exports, underscoring rising concerns that China could use the technology to strengthen its military capability. The bill, supported by House Republicans Michael McCaul and John Molenaar, as well as Democrats Raja Krishnamoorthi and Susan Wild, seeks to give the Commerce Department the authority to prohibit Americans from collaborating with foreign entities in the development of AI systems that are deemed a threat to national security. "Without this legislation, our top AI companies could inadvertently fuel China's technological ascent, empowering their military and malign ambitions," McCaul, who chairs the committee, warned on Wednesday. "As the Chinese Communist Party looks to expand their technological advancements to enhance their surveillance state and war machine, we must protect our sensitive technology from falling into their hands," he stated. The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. This legislation is the latest sign of Washington's intention to limit China's AI ambitions. There are concerns that Beijing could use AI to influence elections, manufacture bioweapons, or launch cyberattacks. Last week, a bipartisan group of senators, led by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, pushed Congress to approve $32 billion in AI research spending to maintain the US edge over China. President Joe Biden's administration is reportedly developing additional steps to protect US AI technologies from foes such as China and Russia. This comes after concerns were expressed during the first formal bilateral talks on AI usage with China in Geneva last week. The bill passed the committee with 43 votes in favour and only three votes against. It now requires approval from both the House and the Senate before being signed into law by President Biden. There is presently no counterpart bill in the Senate, and neither Schumer's office nor the White House has commented on their positions on the legislation. However, in recent years, bipartisan initiatives to challenge China's technology gains have grown in popularity. (With inputs from Reuters)

US House Committee advances bill to restrict AI exports amid China concerns

US&nbsp;investors including the investment arms of Intel Corp and Qualcomm Inc accounted for nearly a fifth of investments in Chinese artificial intelligence companies from 2015 to 2021, a report showed on Wednesday.

The document, released by CSET, a tech policy group at Georgetown University, comes amid growing scrutiny of US&nbsp;investments in&nbsp;AI, Quantum and semiconductors, as the Biden administration prepares to unveil new restrictions on US&nbsp;funding of Chinese tech companies.

According to the report, 167 US&nbsp;investors took part in 401 transactions, or roughly 17 per cent&nbsp;of the investments into Chinese&nbsp;AI&nbsp;companies in the period.

Those transactions represented a total $40.2 billion in investment, or 37 per cent&nbsp;of the total raised by Chinese&nbsp;AI&nbsp;companies in the 6-year period. It was not clear from the report, which pulled information from data provider Crunchbase, what percentage of the funding came from the U.S. firms.

Qualcomm Ventures and Intel Capital were involved in 13 and 11 investments in Chinese&nbsp;AI&nbsp;companies respectively, outpaced by GGV Capital which led US&nbsp;firms with 43 total investments in the&nbsp;sector, the data showed.

The Biden administration is expected to unveil an executive order this year curbing some US&nbsp;investments in sensitive Chinese tech industries, as hawks in Washington blame American investors for transferring capital and valuable know-how to Chinese tech companies that could help advance Beijing's military capabilities.

According to the report, US&nbsp;investor GSR Ventures invested alongside China's IFlytek Co Ltd in a Chinese&nbsp;AI&nbsp;company after the speech recognition firm was added to a trade blacklist. Silicon Valley Bank and Wanxiang American Healthcare investments group made investments in Chinese&nbsp;AI&nbsp;firms alongside China's Sensetime before the powerhouse in facial recognition technology was added to the same trade blacklist.

Both companies were added to the blacklist, which effectively bars them from receiving US&nbsp;tech exports, in 2019 for alleged human rights violations related to the repression of Uighur Muslims.

Some of the largest investments include Goldman Sachs' solo investment in 1KMXC, an&nbsp;AI-enabled robotics company, as well as an investment by three US-based VC firms in Geek+, an autonomous mobile robot company, the report showed.

Only one Chinese&nbsp;AI&nbsp;company that received funding from US&nbsp;investors is involved in developing&nbsp;AI&nbsp;applications for military or public safety uses, according to CSET.

&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

US investors including the investment arms of Intel Corp and Qualcomm Inc accounted for nearly a fifth of investments in Chinese artificial intelligence companies from 2015 to 2021, a report showed on Wednesday.

US investors including the investment arms of Intel Corp and Qualcomm Inc accounted for nearly a fifth of investments in Chinese artificial intelligence companies from 2015 to 2021, a report showed on Wednesday. The document, released by CSET, a tech policy group at Georgetown University, comes amid growing scrutiny of US investments in AI, Quantum and semiconductors, as the Biden administration prepares to unveil new restrictions on US funding of Chinese tech companies. According to the report, 167 US investors took part in 401 transactions, or roughly 17 per cent of the investments into Chinese AI companies in the period. Those transactions represented a total $40.2 billion in investment, or 37 per cent of the total raised by Chinese AI companies in the 6-year period. It was not clear from the report, which pulled information from data provider Crunchbase, what percentage of the funding came from the U.S. firms. Qualcomm Ventures and Intel Capital were involved in 13 and 11 investments in Chinese AI companies respectively, outpaced by GGV Capital which led US firms with 43 total investments in the sector, the data showed. The Biden administration is expected to unveil an executive order this year curbing some US investments in sensitive Chinese tech industries, as hawks in Washington blame American investors for transferring capital and valuable know-how to Chinese tech companies that could help advance Beijing's military capabilities. According to the report, US investor GSR Ventures invested alongside China's IFlytek Co Ltd in a Chinese AI company after the speech recognition firm was added to a trade blacklist. Silicon Valley Bank and Wanxiang American Healthcare investments group made investments in Chinese AI firms alongside China's Sensetime before the powerhouse in facial recognition technology was added to the same trade blacklist. Both companies were added to the blacklist, which effectively bars them from receiving US tech exports, in 2019 for alleged human rights violations related to the repression of Uighur Muslims. Some of the largest investments include Goldman Sachs' solo investment in 1KMXC, an AI-enabled robotics company, as well as an investment by three US-based VC firms in Geek+, an autonomous mobile robot company, the report showed. Only one Chinese AI company that received funding from US investors is involved in developing AI applications for military or public safety uses, according to CSET. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

US investors have plowed billions into China's AI sector, report shows