The Chinese AI wave: Innovation, collaboration, and a common future

"Artificial intelligence: the future is now." This tagline well encapsulates the present China, with AI no longer being merely a buzzword — it's a driving force behind ordinary life and international collaborations.

In the earlier part of this year, China followed France and more than 10 other nations in signing an international statement on AI development at the 2025 AI Action Summit in Paris, committing to develop AI in an open, inclusive, and ethical manner. This is a demonstration of China's increasing leadership and responsibility in developing global AI governance.

One of the emerging stars in this tale is DeepSeek, a Chinese AI company that's causing a stir globally. Unusually for many of its rivals, DeepSeek has gained recognition by enhancing algorithms to drastically cut computing power requirements — and by open-sourcing its model.

As Vrije Universiteit Brussel professor Lin Ying said, this open method provides useful materials for researchers globally with "a path for European companies to develop advanced AI models under limited computing resources".

DeepSeek's success is not only about technology; it's a glimpse of China's larger innovation environment.

From 'AI as a concept' to 'AI in daily life'

In China, AI is not limited to research labs or the corporate boardroom — it's integrated into everyday life. AI beautification features on smartphones; shopping centers have unmanned checkouts; hospitals use AI-based diagnostic tools; even farms are using AI-driven precision irrigation and smart fertilizers.

"Turns out AI is nearer than we imagined," many in China comment. What was once the stuff of science fiction — robot helpers, autonomous vehicles, art created by AI — is now a reality. From intelligent kitchens to AI teachers, from tailored suggestions to managing traffic, AI is no longer some distant vision but a reality that is making life better across the nation.

Aside from convenience, China's AI journey also presents global opportunities. Prof. Lin Ying pointed out that "while Europe excels in data privacy, security, and ethics, China leads in scaling and rapid commercialization." This complementarity presents opportunities for China-European cooperation, particularly in the establishment of joint AI standards and governance frameworks. In an era plagued by digital divides and ethical challenges, such cooperation paves the way for a more inclusive digital world economy.

This AI bonanza is not occurring in a vacuum. 2025 is the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and the EU, an alliance that evolved from trade relationships into all-around cooperation. In 2024, China-EU trade totaled $785.8 billion, whereas two-way investment rose to $260 billion. These statistics are not merely figures, but networks — thousands of companies, scholars, and entrepreneurs linking across borders.

Take DeepSeek as a case, but look broader: Chinese carmaker BYD is constructing a fresh EV factory in Hungary; CATL battery factories are popping up in Germany, Hungary, and Spain; Chery's Spanish joint venture has already launched fresh models. AI has been part of this broader narrative of technology transfer and industrial integration.

When AI spans technology and culture

Interestingly, AI isn't only powering technological cooperation — it's building cultural bridges. As there are regulatory uncertainties surrounding TikTok in the West, European consumers are rushing to China's Xiaohongshu (RedNote) app. There, they're studying Mandarin, warbling Chinese pop hits, trying AI-made ink art, and engaging with Chinese content creators live.

AI, it appears, has become an unlikely "cultural translator".

China's cultural exports are also picking up steam with AI-facilitated localization. The launch of "Black Myth: Wukong", China's first AAA game, sold more than 28 million copies worldwide, fueled by AI translation software allowing global players to enjoy Chinese mythology. AI is not displacing culture, but instead, it is scaling it, introducing tales such as the story of Sun Wukong to global audiences.

"Technology knows no borders; cooperation has no limits." During the current AI boom, China is not trying to dominate innovation but establish knowledge bridges of opportunity, common growth, and mutual understanding. As one European expert phrased it: "To work with China is not just to access products — it's to access a vibrant future."

In fact, the future is both close at hand and far away. With AI, the world perceives an open, cooperative, innovative, and dynamic China.