China wins the open model race and the price to pay goes beyond economics
2025-12-22
Summary
In 2025, Chinese developers surpassed their US counterparts in the number of downloads for open AI models, according to the "Economies of Open Intelligence" report. Chinese models, like Alibaba's Qwen, have gained significant traction, while American dominance in the field has waned. Despite advancements in AI capabilities, transparency has decreased, with fewer models disclosing their training data.
Why This Matters
This shift in AI model dominance from the US to China has broad implications beyond technology, potentially affecting global economic and political dynamics. The rise of Chinese AI models poses concerns about the spread of pro-Chinese narratives through embedded content, highlighting the risks of using models with opaque origins.
How You Can Use This Info
Professionals working with AI should be mindful of the sources of their models and the potential biases they may introduce. It's crucial to assess the transparency and licensing terms of AI models before integration. Staying informed about the origins and implications of AI tools can help mitigate unintended consequences, especially in sensitive areas like customer service and content creation.