US Technological Dominance Is Not What It Used to Be (2024)

With everyone somesmerized by silver-tongued AI chatbots, it’s easy to forget that most flashy breakthroughs in science and technology depend on much less glamorous advances in the fundamentals of computing—new algorithms, different computer architectures, and novel silicon chips.

The US has largely dominated these areas of innovation since the early days of computing. But academics who study advances in computer science say in a new report that by many measures, theUS lead in advanced computing has declined significantly over the past five years—especially when measured againstChina.

It’s well established thatAmerica no longer manufactures many of the world’s most advanced computer chips—a process that involves carving insanely intricate patterns into silicon with devilishly difficult techniques. Apple and many other companies instead outsource that work to TSMC in Taiwan or Samsung in South Korea. This is why the US government created theCHIPS Act—a $52 billion package aimed at revitalizing domestic chip-making and related technologies.

The report—from MIT; the Council on Competitiveness, a think tank; and Silicon Catalyst, an investment firm—shows that America’s share of the world’s most powerful supercomputers has also fallen a lot over the past five years.

And while the US has traditionallydominated the development of new computer algorithms, some measures of algorithmic innovation—such as the Gordon Bell Prize, awarded to outstanding scientists working on advanced computing—indicate the US has lost its edge to China. The report sums up the overall trend in its pointed title: “America’s lead in advanced computing is almost gone.”

The findings are, in one sense, hardly surprising. China has made big economic advances in recent decades that have boosted its universities and tech industry while also making the country a linchpin of innovation in manufacturing for many US businesses.

But they also hold a message about the future that US policymakers may want to take note of, especially when advances in computing will be crucial to making progress in critical areas like energy, climate science, and medicine due to their ability to model incredibly complex phenomena.

Neil Thompson, an MIT researcher involved with the report, explains that modern AI such as ChatGPT andart-generating algorithms are built upon advances in a particular type of computer chip—the graphics processing unit (GPU). They were originally invented to perform the operations required to render video game graphics, but proved to be well suited to calculations used in an AI technique called deep learning.

US Technological Dominance Is Not What It Used to Be (2024)

FAQs

US Technological Dominance Is Not What It Used to Be? ›

The US still leads the world in artificial intelligence, but there are signs it is losing its edge to China in other areas of advanced computing.

Is America falling behind in technology? ›

A majority of workers and experts surveyed for the report — more than 75% — said the U.S. is losing or has already lost the race for global leadership in science and technology, with 60% of responders predicting that China will assume the lead role within five years.

How did the US become so technologically advanced? ›

In the second half of the 20th century, as the United States was drawn into competition with the Soviet Union for political, economic, and military primacy, the government invested heavily in scientific research and technological development which spawned advances in spaceflight, computing, and biotechnology.

Where does the US rank in technology? ›

How We Rank National Technological Advancement
RankingCountryComposite Score
1🇰🇷South Korea6.63
2🇺🇸United States4.94
3🇹🇼Taiwan4.90
4🇩🇰Denmark4.79
61 more rows
Dec 1, 2023

Does the US lead in technology? ›

The ASPI study shows the US leading in research publications in high-performance computing, integrated circuits design and fabrication, and natural language processing. But it trails China in machine learning, advanced analytics, and protective cybersecurity technologies.

What is the most advanced country? ›

According to the list of the top 10 most technologically advanced countries, Japan is in first place, followed by South Korea and the United States in Second and third place. The list includes other countries like Germany, China, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Finland.

Is America the most technologically advanced country? ›

Many technology based rankings mention European countries as the most tech-advanced countries in the world, but the achievements of the U.S. are unparalleled.

Is China more advanced than the US? ›

By 2020, this had grown by approximately four-fifths to 139.2 percent. In other words, China's gross innovation capabilities (e.g., R&D expenditures, venture capital (VC) investments, advanced-industry output, patent output, etc.) are now almost 40 percent greater than those of the United States.

Is USA more technologically advanced than Europe? ›

While the U.S. may be the most technologically advanced country in the world, European nations are continually innovating, especially in tech, while also balancing it with regulations to keep mega corporations in check.

Why does the US dominate technology? ›

One reason is that Big Tech firms prioritize maintaining their dominance in the American market, because it is the most valuable market to them. The American market is Big Tech's biggest source of revenue. [34] American consumers have the most disposable income to purchase Big Tech's products and services.

Which country is no 1 in technology? ›

Japan is the most technologically advanced country, followed by the United States and South Korea. Germany and Singapore lead as the most technologically advanced countries in Europe and Asia (excluding the top three globally), respectively.

Who has the best technology USA or China? ›

China's has a large number of AI scientific articles and patents, suggesting Beijing's global leadership in this area. However, the U.S maintains a strong foothold in advanced AI developments, with organizations like OpenAI, Microsoft, and Alphabet leading in large language model creation and diffusion.

Which country has the best education system? ›

1. United States of America (USA) The education system of the US is one of the best in the world. According to the QS World University Rankings 2024, 34 USA universities come within the top 150 ranks.

Will China overtake US in technology? ›

The United States and other western countries are losing the race with China to develop advanced technologies and retain talent, with Beijing potentially establishing a monopoly in some areas, a new report has said.

What technology does the US have that other countries don t? ›

Yes, the United States does possess some advanced technologies that other countries do not currently possess. These technologies include: Stealth Technology – The US has the most advanced stealth technology in the world, which is used in fighter jets and other military aircraft.

What is the most advanced technology in the world? ›

What are the top 5 trending technologies?
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • Internet of Things (IoT)
  • Blockchain.
  • Cloud Computing.
  • 5G Technology.
Mar 20, 2024

Is the tech industry in decline? ›

Over 262,000 tech workers lost their jobs in 2023, according to Layoffs. fyi, a website tracking tech industry job cut. This represents a significant increase compared to 2022, which saw around 164,969 layoffs in the tech sector. The layoffs affected companies of all sizes, from startups to established tech giants.

Is the US behind other countries in information technology? ›

Even though the U.S. is ranked fourth in technological expertise, it is ranked first in high-income economies for quality innovation. It was just named one of the top three most technologically advanced countries in the world.

Is the tech industry in crisis? ›

But thus far, the industry has witnessed over 34,000 layoffs, marking a significant shift for an industry synonymous with exponential growth and unparalleled job security. Tech giants, including Google, Microsoft and Meta, have initiated substantial layoffs, with Google preparing for a second round.

Why are US tech stocks declining? ›

Rising bond yields, hotter-than-expected recent U.S. economic data and uncertainty around the Federal Reserve's interest rate cut outlook have also weighed on these high-valuation stocks.

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