Wealth managers expect China to share global AI leadership with the US

Wealth managers and institutional investors believe the US will have to share overall artificial intelligence (AI) global leadership with China within five years, according to research from Robocap.

It found the gap between the countries was narrowing, with 56 per cent of wealth managers and institutional investors believing the US and China will be joint leaders in the global AI race.

A third (33 per cent) expected the US to maintain its current market-leading position, while just 2 per cent believed China would overtake the US.

Robocap noted that China was already leading the AI race in certain areas, including the volume of AI patents, the production of research talent, and some physical AI applications in robotics.

However, the US was dominating in the areas of private investment, high-end semiconductor design, and frontier models.

Around one in 12 (8 per cent) respondents believed a country or group other than the US or China could take the lead in global AI.

Almost all (99 per cent) expected the value of the UK AI market, which is currently the third largest by value, to increase over the next five years, including 28 per cent who forecast a dramatic increase.

However, all respondents felt AI regulation in the UK and EU was too stringent and had resulted in constrained creativity and innovation, including 30 per cent who strongly agreed with this assertion.

“The US has long dominated the global AI race but professional investors are increasingly convinced that dominance will end,” said Robocap founder and CIO, Jonathan Cohen.

“They are not convinced China will assume global AI leadership on its own but expect it to share leadership with the US as the sector as a whole advances. In fact, the research shows some are convinced another country or region could assume AI leadership.

“The clear message for investors is that they have to think globally and look beyond the traditional powerhouse of the US and be open to opportunities worldwide.”

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