state-backed entities

Microsoft President Brad Smith warns that Chinese tech companies’ AI advancement, fueled by substantial government subsidies, poses a significant competitive challenge. He points to China’s past success in telecommunications with state-backed firms like Huawei and ZTE. Smith urges Western companies to compete effectively with government support, noting China’s large AI investment fund and cloud computing subsidies. This could lead to a “China tech sphere” dominating emerging markets due to cost-effectiveness.