Dr. Hook also underscores the strategic importance of AI for national security and economic competitiveness, making it a critical area for countries to prioritize.

The report stresses that governments must recognize AI as vital to national security, comparable to energy and military power, given its growing influence.

While the UK maintains a small but impactful presence in AI research, the EU faces risks of falling behind due to weaker international collaboration and difficulties in translating research into practical outputs like patents.

The report criticizes the EU for its weaker international collaboration and struggles in converting research into applied innovations, raising concerns about its future competitiveness in AI.

Despite strong internal collaboration, the EU's challenges in translating research into patents threaten its ability to stay competitive in the AI race.

China boasts a vast AI talent pool with approximately 30,000 active researchers, along with a large number of students and postdoctoral researchers, fueling its research dominance.

The release of China's DeepSeek chatbot in January 2025 marks a significant milestone, demonstrating China's technological independence and its ability to innovate around US chip restrictions, signaling a strategic shift in AI capabilities.

Dr. Daniel Hook, CEO of Digital Science, emphasizes that China's DeepSeek chatbot signifies a profound shift in the global AI landscape and highlights China's capacity for innovation amid geopolitical challenges.

A new report by Digital Science reveals that China has become the dominant force in global AI research, surpassing other nations in volume, influence, and citations, and is catching up with the US, UK, and EU in collaboration and innovation.

The analysis covers AI research data from 2000 to 2024, showing a significant growth from around 10,000 publications in 2000 to 60,000 in 2024, illustrating AI's rapid evolution beyond just technological innovation.