AI ecosystem lifts China's global position

Chinese researchers and entrepreneurs are playing an increasingly visible role in the global development of generative AI, supported by closer ties among universities, institutions and companies, says Cao Yanpei, chief scientist at Chinese generative AI company Tripo AI.

Speaking to China Daily at the SIGGRAPH 2026 computer graphics conference in Los Angeles, Cao said China's AI ecosystem enables researchers to move ideas from academic papers into practical products relatively quickly.

"Universities and public research institutions provide strong training and room for long-term research, while companies (offer) computing resources, real products and large user markets," he said. "Researchers move between these settings, so ideas can go from papers to practical use relatively quickly."

Chinese AI talent has gained greater international visibility through broader participation in global conferences and open-source research communities, he said.

Cao said his own career reflects the interaction across China's innovation ecosystem, taking him from academic research to the technology industry and eventually to building a company.

Tripo has released more than 30 open-source projects, including TripoSG, while keeping its commercial data and production systems proprietary. Cao said such contributions help advance global AI research.

"China's advantage in generative 3D AI starts with talent," he said. "Chinese teams moved early in 3D generation and related research, giving the country a head start as the field grew."

China also benefits from a short path between digital creation and physical production, supported by large online creator communities, extensive manufacturing supply chains and a fast-growing robotics market, Cao said.

China installed about 295,000 industrial robots in 2024, accounting for 54 percent of the global total, according to the International Federation of Robotics. Its operational stock exceeded 2 million units, the world's largest.

"Robotics creates a different need: consistent simulation," Cao said.

There is no clear divide between the Chinese and United States markets, as professional users and ordinary creators in both countries share similar needs, he said.

Despite rising geopolitical tensions, international cooperation remains essential to advancing AI and computer graphics, he added.

renali@chinadailyusa.com