US and China shift AI competition toward capital mobilization

The artificial intelligence competition between the United States and China is expanding beyond semiconductor chips and language models into a race for capital mobilization and infrastructure funding. As technology corporations commit hundreds of billions of dollars toward data centers, chips, and computing infrastructure, the ability to organize and allocate financial resources has become a decisive factor in achieving technological dominance.

Developing high-capacity AI models requires massive computational power, while widespread deployment necessitates data centers, accelerated chips, storage systems, and stable power supplies. These significant investments must often be made before revenue and profits are fully realized.

According to research from the Rhodium Group, AI infrastructure investment in China is accelerating. Capital expenditure for AI infrastructure among 13 surveyed Chinese companies is projected to increase by 103% in 2026 to approximately 932 billion yuan (roughly 139 billion USD), with forecasts suggesting it could reach approximately 193 billion USD by 2027.