Tencent's chief AI scientist aims to develop artificial general intelligence in China, signaling a shift in the US-China AI race.

Tencent's new chief AI scientist, former OpenAI researcher Yao Shunyu, announced ambitions to develop artificial general intelligence (AGI) in China, marking a shift in the US-China technology competition. While US companies have long focused on AGI, Chinese firms have mainly applied AI in practical uses due to US chip restrictions. Yao's goal reflects China's growing efforts to catch up by attracting Silicon Valley talent and investing in foundational AI research. This move contrasts with increasing caution in the US about AI risks, highlighting diverging approaches to AI development between the two countries.