The “Splinternet” is the concept of a future in which the internet is fragmented, governed by separate regulations and run by different services.  It has been suggested that Chinese and American apps and services would each dominate half of the internet – the Chinese apps and services being utilized in countries such as India, Southeast Asia, South America the Middle East and Africa and the US apps being utilized in America and within European countries with significant English speaking populations.

For a number of reasons, one version of the internet is likely to be more advanced than the other in terms of artificial intelligence or AI.  If the Chinese led internet is more advanced in terms of AI, this would benefit Chinese businesses and industries, which would enjoy the automation of many tasks and a more enhanced consumer experience.   While the US is ahead in AI research, China is ahead in implementation of AI technology due to pro-AI government policies.  This will cause AI to have a greater impact sooner on the Chinese internet.

The Chinese government’s focus on AI in its efforts to dominate key areas of technology give it an advantage.  AI helps businesses with increased sales, fraud detection, improved customer experience, automated work processes and also provides predictive analysis.

American industry leaders must lobby the US government to work toward AI legislation and infrastructure to ensure that US companies can compete with Chinese firms through AI.  AI research and patent filings are not enough for the US to become leaders in the space.