Elon Musk Praises China’s AI, Manufacturing and Calls for Global AI Safety Rules

Musk’s comments come as U.S.-China competition over AI, advanced chips, electric vehicles and manufacturing intensifies. Chinese AI models are increasingly challenging U.S. developers on capability and cost, making technological cooperation—and competition—an important part of the relationship. Key Takeaways: Musk credited the Shanghai Gigafactory’s success to its Chinese workforce; said Chinese AI models are becoming increasingly capable; highlighted electricity and computing infrastructure as constraints on AI expansion; supported international cooperation on AI safety; and discussed Optimus humanoid robots, reusable rockets, Neuralink and his longer-term vision of AI-enabled abundance. Musk also praised China’s development and encouraged people to visit, highlighting his Beijing-to-Xi’an high-speed rail journey and the Terracotta Warriors. He described China’s scale and progress in strongly positive terms.

AI is likely to remain a central issue in U.S.-China relations. With both countries developing frontier models and massive computing infrastructure, attention is shifting toward whether Washington and Beijing can establish shared safety mechanisms while continuing to compete technologically.