More Americans think China is world leader in AI, Pew survey reveals; Trump insists US is leading, plans AI talks with Xi
Xi JinpingDonald TrumpJoe BidenPew Research Center

More Americans think China is world leader in AI, Pew survey reveals; Trump insists US is leading, plans AI talks with Xi

A Pew Research survey reveals that 36% of Americans believe China leads in artificial intelligence development, while only 12% think the U.S. is ahead. President Trump insists the U.S. is leading and plans to discuss AI with President Xi during his upcoming visit.

South China Morning Post South China Morning Post+1 source24 July 2026 · 00:01 UTC
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More than one-third of Americans perceive China as the leader in artificial intelligence, according to a recent Pew Research survey. The survey indicates that 36% of respondents believe China is more advanced, while only 12% think the U.S. holds that title.126

The survey's findings reveal a significant divide in perception across party lines, with 30% of Republicans and 43% of Democrats viewing China as ahead in AI development.

President Trump, however, maintains that the U.S. is leading, stating, “whoever wins that race is probably going to win. Period”. He emphasized the importance of AI in discussions with President Xi, scheduled for September 24th.45

The survey also highlights that 43% of Americans consider it extremely important for the U.S. to lead in AI, while 22% deem it not important. Notably, men are more likely than women to believe the U.S. is ahead (18% vs. 7%).

Concerns about AI's impact on inequality are prevalent, with 51% of Americans believing it will widen the gap between rich and poor countries. This sentiment is stronger among Democrats (60%) compared to Republicans (45%).

The survey underscores a growing anxiety regarding global AI leadership and its implications for economic disparity.

Key Insight
“The survey found 36% of Americans see China as more advanced in AI, compared to only 12% who say the US leads, with 33% unsure. Additionally, 43% of Americans consider US AI leadership extremely important, and 54% of Republicans prioritize it over 34% of Democrats.”
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CuriousCats studied:
1
South China Morning PostSouth China Morning Post
“More than one-third of Americans see China, and not the United States, as the global leader in , according to a Pew Research Centre survey released on Thursday, as US President confirmed the technology would be on the agenda when his Chinese counterpart visits the US later this year.”
South China Morning Post →
2
Pew Research Center
“By a three-to-one margin, Americans are more likely to say that China, not the United States, is more advanced when it comes to developing artificial intelligence.”
Pew Research Center →
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