Which country is leading in AI? What the research shows
In AI research, China leads 3 of the 4 AI technologies tracked here: large language models, AI chips and advanced robotics, by share of the 10% most-cited papers published 2021–2025. The United States leads high-performance computing. In the 1% most-cited language-model papers, the gap narrows: China 27.8%, the United States 26.1%.
Data: OpenAlex, research published 2021–2025, pulled 18 October 2026. Definition version 0.5.
AI technology by technology
Share of the most-cited papers, 2021–2025. The last column leaves out China and the United States.
| Technology | Leads (top 10%) | Second | Leads (top 1%) | Next after the two |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Large language models | CNChina 27.4% | United States 19.4% | China 27.8% | United Kingdom 3.7% |
| AI chips | CNChina 46.2% | South Korea 12.1% | China 44.7% | South Korea 12.1% |
| Advanced robotics | CNChina 31.5% | United States 16.0% | United States 27.7% | Italy 6.4% |
| High-performance computing | USUnited States 36.3% | China 13.9% | United States 37.6% | Germany 7.5% |
Source: OpenAlex, pulled 18 October 2026. Method
Which way it is moving
Change in share of the 10% most-cited papers, 2021–2023 vs 2024–2025.
| Technology | China | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Large language models | +13.9 pts | −11.0 pts |
| AI chips | +6.5 pts | −7.9 pts |
| Advanced robotics | +1.7 pts | −3.1 pts |
| High-performance computing | +4.1 pts | −7.2 pts |
Questions
Which country is leading in AI?
In research, China: it writes the largest share of the most-cited papers in 3 of 4 AI technologies (large language models, AI chips and advanced robotics). The United States leads high-performance computing. This measures research that other researchers build on, not frontier models, computing power or investment.
Is China ahead of the US in AI?
In research on large language models, China has the larger share of the 10% most-cited papers (27.4% against 19.4%). Among the 1% most-cited, the two are close: China 27.8%, the United States 26.1%. Which country builds the most capable models is a different question this data does not answer.
Which countries lead AI research after China and the United States?
The United Kingdom (large language models), South Korea (AI chips), Italy (advanced robotics) and Germany (high-performance computing) rank highest once the two are set aside.
How is AI research measured here?
Four technologies stand for AI: large language models, AI chips, advanced robotics and high-performance computing. For each, a country's share of the 10% most-cited papers published 2021–2025, with each paper's credit split between its authors' countries. Every definition is published on the technology pages.
What this does not measure
Citations show how much other researchers build on a country's work. They do not measure which models are most capable, how much computing power a country has, chip production, investment or adoption. Language models and the other conference-driven fields are counted from all sources, preprints included. Full method on the method page.