China is a leading country in artificial intelligence (AI) research.
According to the *AI Index 2023 Annual Report* released by Stanford University, around 293,000 AI research papers were published worldwide in 2021, with the majority (39.78%) originating from China.
China has consistently been the most active country in producing AI research papers since 2010, far surpassing European countries, the UK, and the United States (US).
However, this doesn't mean researchers from these countries always work individually. Stanford University also found numerous collaborative projects between China and the US.
"The US and China have the highest number of cross-national collaborative AI research publications. In 2021, this number increased approximately fourfold compared to 2010, exceeding collaborations between the US and the UK," they stated.
Globally, the number of AI research publications in 2021 more than doubled compared to 2010.
The dominant topics in global AI research during the 2010-2021 period were pattern recognition, machine learning, and computer vision.
However, alongside the rise in research activity, Stanford University found an increasing number of unethical AI applications.
"Currently, the number of incidents and controversies related to AI has increased 26 times compared to 2012. One example occurred in 2022, when deepfake technology was used to create a fake video of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy surrendering to Russia," they said.
"This demonstrates the growing use of AI technology, while simultaneously raising awareness of its potential misuse," they continued.
Since 2014, global machine learning research has been predominantly produced by industry researchers rather than academics. Simply put, machine learning is the development of systems enabling computers to perform specific tasks without explicit human instructions.
"In 2022, industry produced 32 machine learning models, while academia produced only 3," said the Stanford University team.
"Building advanced AI systems requires vast amounts of data, powerful computers, and significant funding. Industry possesses these resources far more than academia and non-profit organizations," they continued.