Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt Says China Is Six Months Behind U.S. in AI
Eric Schmidt, a former Google CEO, told Fast Company that China is just six months behind the United States in AI development and has a major energy advantage.
Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt said China is now just six months behind the United States in the global race to develop artificial intelligence, according to a report in The Hill. The report, written by Finya Swai, described remarks Schmidt made in an interview with Fast Company that was released Wednesday.
According to The Hill, Schmidt said the gap between the two countries has narrowed dramatically. The published summary of the report ends before stating over what period the narrowing occurred, so the timeframe Schmidt had in mind cannot be established from the report.
On energy, The Hill reported that Schmidt said China has a major advantage in that area. The headline of the report goes further, using the phrase "infinite energy" to describe China's position. The body summary does not repeat that wording and does not explain what Schmidt meant by it.
The Hill's summary presents two claims from Schmidt: a six-month gap in AI development and a major energy advantage for China. Both are reported as Schmidt's own statements in the Fast Company interview, not as findings of The Hill.
The Hill's summary does not say whether the six-month estimate rests on a specific measurement or on Schmidt's own judgment. It also names no other source, expert, or official who agreed or disagreed with the assessment.
Schmidt's comments were released as part of the Fast Company interview on Wednesday, according to The Hill, and the summary identifies him only by his former role at Google. Further details of the interview are not included in the summary of The Hill's report.
Sources: The Hill: Ex-Google CEO: China is 6 months behind US on AI and has 'infinite energy'.