China’s economic rise is often portrayed as unstoppable, but the reality is this: China’s economic stature is overrated

China is trying to act like a high-tech superpower while stuck with the productivity levels and export profile of a middle-income country.

Despite heavy investments in technology, its economy suffers from a persistent productivity problem.

Its exports are still centered around low- to mid-value goods, and its much-hyped artificial intelligence sector is more about state direction than spontaneous innovation.

In 2017 , the State Council released a sweeping AI plan, aiming to make China the world's AI leader by 2030 .

Jeffrey Ding’s in-depth analysis offers a more realistic picture of China 's AI capabilities.

China trails in key areas like cutting-edge hardware and foundational research, Ding says.