AI at Home: A New Companion for Kids
Eight-year-old Timmy sat with his head in his hands, staring at the chessboard. His opponent? A sleek, AI-powered robot sitting comfortably on his coffee table in a Beijing apartment.
On its first night home, Timmy eagerly hugged his new robotic friend before heading to bed. He hasn’t named it yet, but he already sees it as more than just a machine.
“It’s like a little teacher or a little friend,” Timmy said, showing his mother his next move. Moments later, the robot responded, “Congrats! You win.” Its round digital eyes blinked as it reset the board, promising in Mandarin, “I’ve seen your ability. I will do better next time.” 
This everyday scene reflects a larger trend: China’s deep integration of AI into daily life, an essential step in its plan to become a global tech superpower by 2030.
China’s AI Boom: The Race to Dominate Tech
China’s AI industry is experiencing explosive growth. The breakthrough chatbot DeepSeek grabbed global attention in early 2024, signaling the country’s rapid advancements. With over 4,500 AI firms competing for funding and talent, the sector is flourishing. Beijing schools will soon introduce AI courses for primary and secondary students, while universities expand AI-related programs to train the next generation of engineers.
“This is the future. AI is here to stay,” said Yan Xue, Timmy’s mother. “Children should embrace it early. We shouldn’t resist progress.”
She believes her son’s $800 AI chess and Go tutor is a worthwhile investment. The company behind the robot is already developing language-learning capabilities, making it an even more valuable educational tool.
The Chinese Government’s AI Strategy
China’s commitment to AI is more than just an economic move—it’s a national priority. In 2017, the government declared AI to be the “main driving force” of technological progress. Now, with a slowing economy and increasing trade restrictions from the United States, China is doubling down on AI investment.
Over the next 15 years, Beijing plans to invest 10 trillion yuan ($1.4 trillion) into advanced technology. The annual political assembly reinforced this commitment with new AI funding, including a 60 billion yuan investment fund announced just days after Washington tightened semiconductor export controls.
The ‘Little Dragons’ of China’s AI Industry
Despite U.S. restrictions, Chinese AI companies are finding ways to innovate. The emergence of DeepSeek and other startups has shocked Silicon Valley, proving that China is catching up faster than expected.
A new term has emerged online: “China’s Six Little Dragons”, referring to six rising AI firms—DeepSeek, Unitree Robotics, Deep Robotics, BrainCo, Game Science, and Manycore Tech. These companies are making waves, showcasing everything from search-and-rescue robots to agile robotic dogs.
“When I tell people my company is from China, there’s always a pause,” said Tommy Tang, who markets AI-powered chess robots. “They expect us to be from the US or Europe. But China is leading in smart hardware.”
His company, SenseRobot, has sold over 100,000 units and recently signed a deal with Costco, a major U.S. retailer.
AI and Education: Shaping China’s Future Engineers
China’s AI dominance is fueled by an enormous talent pool. In 2020, over 3.5 million Chinese students graduated with degrees in STEM fields—more than any other country.
“China has been accumulating talent and technology for decades,” said Abbott Lyu, vice-president of Whalesbot, a company that makes AI-powered educational toys. His firm develops toys to teach coding to kids as young as three.
“Other countries have AI education robots too,” he said, “but China is more competitive in smart hardware.”
Privacy Concerns: The Other Side of AI Growth
While China’s AI progress is impressive, it raises serious privacy concerns. AI thrives on data, and with over 1 billion smartphone users, Beijing has a major advantage.
The West worries that data collected by Chinese apps—such as DeepSeek and TikTok—could be accessed by the Chinese Communist Party. Countries like South Korea and Australia have already restricted certain Chinese AI applications due to national security concerns.
Chinese companies insist they respect privacy laws, but suspicion remains strong. ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, has repeatedly denied government interference, yet the app has been banned on government devices in multiple Western nations.
Affordable AI: China’s Secret Weapon
Chinese AI firms are focused on cost-effective innovation. SenseRobot, for instance, originally designed its chess-playing robot with an expensive robotic arm, which would have cost $40,000. By using AI to streamline the design, they reduced costs to $1,000—a move that industry experts call game-changing.
“This is innovation,” said Tang. “AI isn’t just changing products; it’s revolutionizing how we manufacture.”
The Future: AI-Powered Factories and Aging Solutions
China’s AI ambitions go beyond gadgets and chatbots. The government envisions AI-powered humanoid robots assisting its aging population and fully automated smart factories boosting industrial output.
President Xi Jinping has made technological self-reliance a core goal, particularly in chip production, to counteract U.S. trade restrictions. While China has made significant strides, experts caution that the country is still in “catch-up mode” compared to the West.
Still, China’s AI revolution is in full swing, and it’s clear the country is in this race for the long haul.
