China intensifies push to become world leader in tech and AI

China pledged to use extraordinary measures to support its goal of becoming a global leader in artificial intelligence, quantum technology and other cutting-edge technological fields. The commitment appears in the country's 15th five-year plan. The plan was passed Many researchers noted an air of confidence in the plan. Meicen Sun, an information scientist at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, said five years ago the sentiment among Chinese science policymakers was that they did not want to be too far behind the United States and were still catching up. She said there is now a more palpable sentiment that there is a real chance China can be a true leader.