Angela Zhang: What’s Really Happening with AI (and AI Governance) in China

This week, Professor Werbach is joined by USC Law School professor Angela Zhang, an expert on China's approach to the technology sector. China is both one of the world's largest markets and home to some of the world's leading tech firms, as well as an active ecosystem of AI developers. Yet its relationship to the United States has become increasingly tense. Many in the West see a battle between the US and China to dominate AI, with significant geopolitical implications. In the episodoe, Zhang discusses China’s rapidly evolving tech and AI landscape, and the impact of government policies on its development. She dives into what the Chinese government does and doesn’t do in terms of AI regulation, and compares Chinese practices to those in the West. Kevin and Angela consider the implications of US export controls on AI-related technologies, along with the potential for cooperation between the US and China in AI governance. Finally, they look toward the future of Chinese AI including its progress and potential challenges. 

Angela Huyue Zhang is a Professor of Law at the Gould School of Law  of the University of Southern California. She is the author of Chinese Antitrust Exceptionalism: How the Rise of China Challenges Global Regulation which was named one of the Best Political Economy Books of the Year by ProMarket in 2021. Her second book, High Wire: How China Regulates Big Tech and Governs Its Economy, released in March 2024, has been covered in The New York Times, Bloomberg, Wire China, MIT Tech Review and many other international news outlets. 

High Wire: How China Regulates Big Tech and Governs Its Economy 

The Promise and Perils of China's Regulation of Artificial Intelligence

Angela Zhang’s Website

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