The US and China Are Collaborating More Closely on AI Than You Think

image via WIRED

January 21, 2026, 7:00 PM

• •A WIRED analysis of NeurIPS papers shows significant collaboration between US and Chinese AI researchers.
• •Collaboration involves sharing of algorithms and models, such as transformer architecture and Meta's Llama models.
• •Experts believe that the US and China AI ecosystems are interconnected and benefit from the collaboration.
• •The analysis used AI models to assist in the research and data analysis.

Despite being archrivals in artificial intelligence, the US and China surprisingly collaborate on cutting-edge research, with a WIRED analysis revealing significant teamwork between US and Chinese labs in AI research papers. This collaboration is evident in the sharing and adaptation of algorithms and models, such as the transformer architecture and Meta's Llama models, between the two countries. Experts emphasize the intertwined nature of the US and Chinese AI ecosystems, benefiting both sides despite any political tensions. The analysis highlights the importance of international cooperation in AI, offering a reminder that the two AI superpowers still have much to gain from working together.

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