China’s AI leads the world, but no one trusts it: poll

A new global survey shows that many people believe China’s artificial intelligence models are ahead of those from other countries—including in key US allies such as Canada, Britain, and France. But the same poll reveals a major gap: China lags far behind in public trust. The survey, conducted by the London-based consultancy Public First, polled over 18,000 people across 15 nations. In 11 of those countries, at least 40% of respondents said China leads the global AI race. This includes nations like Canada, Britain, and France, where respondents ranked Chinese AI above American or European models. However, when asked about trust, the results flipped. China scored lower than its competitors on questions about reliability, safety, and data privacy. The findings suggest that while China’s technology is seen as advanced, skepticism about its governance and ethics remains high. The poll highlights a growing split between perceived capability and public confidence in the global AI landscape.