China only months behind US AI models, DeepMind CEO tells CNBC. China has nearly caught up

Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google DeepMind, recently indicated that China's AI models are now only a matter of months behind those in the U.S. This claim challenges the long-standing belief that China is significantly lagging in AI development. Rapid advancements from key tech companies and emerging AI labs have brought Chinese capabilities closer to their Western counterparts, as demonstrated by the notable performance of the DeepSeek model. While companies such as Alibaba and emerging startups continue to roll out increasingly proficient AI models, Hassabis warned of a cultural barrier to achieving foundational breakthroughs. U.S. export controls limiting access to advanced semiconductors remain a significant constraint on China's abilities, potentially widening the gap in the future.