Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the competitive landscape of AI between China and the United States, emphasizing the critical role of electricity supply and infrastructure in supporting AI development, rather than just focusing on chip technology and manufacturing capabilities. Group 1: Electricity Consumption and Infrastructure - Silicon Valley's AI data centers consume over 100 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, surpassing the total electricity usage of Sweden [1] - The U.S. electrical grid is fragmented, with major regions operating independently, leading to inefficiencies and high transmission losses of over 15% on outdated high-voltage lines [3] - The construction of interstate high-voltage lines in the U.S. takes an average of ten years, which is significantly longer than in China, where the average is three years [6][18] Group 2: China's Electricity System Advantages - China has built 35 ultra-high voltage lines by 2024, enabling efficient transmission of renewable energy with losses below 5% to major AI centers [9] - The Chinese power grid can quickly adjust to fluctuating demands, providing stable electricity supply crucial for AI operations, which require consistent high loads during training [11] - China's investment in digitalizing its power grid is twice that of the U.S., allowing for better integration of renewable energy sources [13] Group 3: Coal Power as a Strategic Asset - Despite environmental concerns, China's modern coal power plants serve as a reliable backup for AI operations, capable of rapid expansion and quick deployment compared to other energy sources [15] - The ability to respond quickly to electricity demand is seen as a significant advantage for China in the AI competition, especially as global data centers are projected to consume 8% of the world's electricity by 2030 [15] Group 4: Historical Context and Future Implications - Historical patterns suggest that the benefits of technological advancements often accrue to countries that can scale applications efficiently, rather than those that invent the technology [16] - The future of AI dominance may hinge more on the efficiency of electricity supply and infrastructure than on advanced chip technology alone, positioning China's power grid as a critical asset in this competition [21]

Core Insights - Since the "14th Five-Year Plan," China has initiated a new round of digital infrastructure development, establishing a national integrated computing network that connects various regions, positioning its computing power as the second largest globally, thus fostering growth opportunities for the digital economy [1][3]. Group 1: Computing Power Growth - The average annual growth rate of China's computing power has reached 30% since the "14th Five-Year Plan," with over 70% of the new computing power originating from the western regions [3]. - The computing power generated in one second by China's entire intelligent computing system would take 4,000 years for 8 billion people using ordinary calculators to achieve [3]. Group 2: Digital Economy and Infrastructure - The "14th Five-Year Plan" explicitly aims to create new advantages in the digital economy and includes the construction of a digital China as a standalone section in the five-year plan [3]. - The establishment of eight national computing hub nodes, ten national data center clusters, and numerous new optical cable routes has led to the realization of the "East Data West Computing" mega project [3][5]. Group 3: Regional Development and Impact - In Gansu's Qingyang, the "East Data West Computing" hub has seen a significant increase in mobile signal density, with 452 new enterprises established, leading to local digital economy revenues soaring to nearly 10 billion yuan [5]. - More than 30 "computing power new cities" have emerged during the "14th Five-Year Plan," serving as critical support for the AI era, with computing power from Guizhou contributing to animation production in Beijing and from Qinghai aiding in intelligent driving model training in Jiangsu [7]. Group 4: Infrastructure and Global Position - China has built the largest and most extensive network infrastructure globally during the "14th Five-Year Plan," with its computing power ranking among the top worldwide, making it one of the countries with the richest data application scenarios [7].