Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence

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Stanford report finds China has closed the artificial intelligence gap with the United States

As of May 2026: Publisher of the AI Index Report

For most of the past decade, the United States led in artificial intelligence — Stanford University's ninth annual AI Index, released April 13, says that lead is effectively gone. Chinese models have traded places with American ones at the top of performance rankings multiple times since early 2025, and the current gap is 2.7 percentage points, down from double digits.

Updated May 31

Stanford emerging technology review

New Capabilities

As of May 2026: SETR partner on AI research

Congress defunded its own technology assessment office in 1995. Three decades later, Stanford University is trying to fill that gap. The third annual Stanford Emerging Technology Review debuted in Washington on January 28, 2026, with Hoover Institution scholars briefing senators, White House officials, and agency leaders on ten frontier technologies affecting national competitiveness.

Updated May 27