Jul 7

Jul 7 Why China Leads India in AI and Robotics Talent

*(A robotic dog in China imitating a yoga head stand. Photo Ravi Rao ©.)*

July 6, 2024

By Ravi Rao*

I earned a BS in electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur, teach computer engineering at a university in the United States, conduct research in artificial intelligence (AI), including collaborating with some teachers at IIT Delhi, and recently spent a month teaching at a university in central China. So, based on my experience, I offer some anecdotal comparisons on the race between India and China to develop advanced talent in artificial intelligence (AI) and the related fields of machine learning and robotics.

Before my visit, I knew very little about the province of Hubei, in the interior of China, where I was to teach. The World’s largest dam, the Three Gorges dam, is in Hubei. The provincial capital is Wuhan. During my entire stay and travels in and around Hubei, I came across very few foreigners.

I taught an engineering course to a class of 120 third year students at a mid-tier Chinese university in Hubei. The students were passionate, interested and with a strong work ethic. There were no late submissions of assignments and most put in serious effort in their work, with no copying from Chat GPT and other sources. Five of the students had outstanding knowledge and curiosity and were catalysts for the other students.

Most of the students were eager to pursue Master’s or PhD studies, with AI and robotics being the top choices. The choices reflect the emphasis and spending on rapidly developing the country’s capabilities in these fields, by both the government of China and major Chinese technology companies. Also, the students are attracted by the high salaries paid to highly skilled AI and robotics talent.