Stanford Report Says China Leads Global AI Publications and Patents

Los Angeles (ANTARA) - China has become the global leader in terms of the volume of artificial intelligence (AI) publications, number of citations, total patent output, and industrial robot installations, according to a report released on Monday (13/4). Compiled by the Institute for Human-Centered AI at Stanford University, the 2026 AI Index Report has tracked AI developments since 2017, covering technical capabilities, research output volume, social impact, and public perception. Its key findings include the shrinking performance gap between AI models in the United States (US) and China, record-high adoption rates, and the fastest expansion of AI access in history. This indicates that AI capabilities are advancing rapidly, while efforts to measure and manage them remain behind. The report also reveals concerns regarding environmental costs, transparency, and the distribution of benefits. The report states that the US continues to produce more top-tier AI models and higher-impact patents, and spends more on AI than all other countries combined. Nevertheless, that country is increasingly struggling to attract the world’s best talent. Meanwhile, AI-induced labour market disruptions are shifting from expectations to reality, with younger workers being the first affected. The report also mentions that responsible AI efforts are failing to keep pace with technological progress, formal education is lagging behind developments, and AI sovereignty is becoming a hallmark of national policy regardless of uneven capabilities. Experts and the public hold very different views on the future of AI, the report adds.