ChinAI’ Catches Up with the U.S. with Help from the Six Little Dragons”
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer just a trend but the battlefield of one of the largest geopolitical competitions of our time. AI agents are already transforming the nature of business and work, with much of the change increasingly coming from China. Once lagging behind the U.S., China is now on the verge of becoming a leader in the high-tech sector. This was discussed by business consultant and bestselling author Petar Ivanov on the show Business Start with host Hristo Nikolov.
“China’s plans for global AI dominance are quite real and have surprised many U.S. experts.”
Ivanov cited a statement by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, who, after visiting China six months ago, said that the country is catching up with the U.S. in AI much faster than expected—and may challenge U.S. leadership within months.
The 6 Little AI Dragons
A key player in this transformation is the Chinese company DeepSeek, the most powerful among China’s so-called “six little dragons.” This term refers to six new Chinese tech companies revitalizing the sector:
- DeepSeek
- Game developer Game Science (creator of Black Myth)
- Robotics firms Unitree and DeepRobotics
- BrainCo, a Neuralink competitor
- ManyCore, focused on spatial intelligence
DeepSeek is changing the game not just through advanced mathematical algorithms and specialized models but also with extremely low hardware requirements—training their AI model costs only 5% of what GPT-4 does, Ivanov noted. He added that Beijing now actively supports its tech companies after previous crackdowns on firms like Alibaba.
AI also has enormous potential in the defense industry. An AI-controlled drone costs thousands but can destroy tanks worth millions, Ivanov warned. He painted a grim but, in his view, realistic scenario: once so-called superintelligence is reached, a country like China could operate weapons systems in real time—gaining massive strategic advantage.
AI Agents
2025 is the year of AI agents, said Ivanov—systems that automate decision-making and optimize business processes in real time. Large enterprises already use tools like Microsoft Copilot, but smaller ones can be even more creative—deploying their own models even on mobile devices.
There’s a wave of semi-ready solutions from tech giants and innovative projects from startups—some developed with just a single graphics card, making them accessible even to solo developers.
AI learns from us—our questions, reactions, and tone in the digital space. “We are all responsible for what this superintelligence becomes,” Ivanov said. He believes there will be a need for international regulation based on partnerships and shared ethical standards.
In recent months, a new generation of AI agents has rapidly emerged—assistants that not only boost productivity but directly take over processes once considered “too human” to automate. One of the most practical innovations impacting millions of employees is the automation of daily communication and administrative tasks, Ivanov explained.
AI agents are now present even in internal business meetings—not just taking notes but generating tasks, creating summaries, and giving real-time feedback, saving managers significant time, Ivanov said.
AI Impact on Jobs
The impact of AI on employment remains a hot topic. According to Ivanov, while short-term effects are mixed, major transformations are expected within the next 5 years.
He cited examples from Bulgarian banks, where front-desk employees have already been retrained as AI data preparation specialists. Starting a dialogue about such retraining efforts is crucial, Ivanov emphasized.
You can watch more on these topics in the video.
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