China shows stronger optimism about AI than the West

In short: China’s government and many workers appear more positive about using AI, while the US and Europe are more worried about its risks.

What's going on

Chinese leaders have made AI a major national priority. Some policy discussions describe a goal of surpassing the US in AI by around 2030. They also talk about using AI across many parts of society, from city services like traffic systems to the military.

One reason China may be able to move quickly is how it blends civilian and military work. This is sometimes called “military-civil fusion,” which means tools built for businesses can also be used by the armed forces, and vice versa. Another reported focus is using open-source AI, meaning AI software that is shared publicly so many people can build on it (like a public recipe anyone can improve).

Public use also appears high. The Stanford 2026 AI Index reports that in 2025, more than 80% of workers in China said they use AI at work at least semi-regularly. That puts China among the highest-use countries in that survey.

This stands in contrast to many Western debates, which often center on worries like job losses, unfair outcomes, and how AI could shift global power. International polling also suggests a trust gap. In a Pew survey summarized in the Stanford report, median trust in AI oversight was lower for China than for the EU or US.

What to watch

Watch whether China’s high workplace use turns into clear economic gains, and whether other countries answer with stricter rules, trade limits, or larger public investments. It is also worth watching how Chinese open-source efforts interact with US export controls, which limit access to some advanced AI chips.

Source: NYTimes