At a technology park outside Beijing, Xi Jinping watched robotic hands thread a needle, declaring it would help China seize its future through artificial intelligence. His vision sees A. I. permeating factories, hospitals and classrooms, turning it into a 'lead goose' for China's next economic revolution.

The Chinese government is mobilizing the full weight of the state, with hundreds of companies developing cutting-edge chips and A. I. models at the park. The city government provides tens of millions in free computing power, showcasing creations from missile-powered chips to brain implants.

China's A. I. campaign is backed by over $184 billion in state-led funds between 2000 and 2023, with hundreds of billions more pledged recently. Unlike the U.S. focus on artificial general intelligence, Chinese officials concentrate on immediate goals like replacing retiring workers with robots and providing rural medical care through digital avatars.

The government aims for A. I.-powered tools to permeate 90 percent of Chinese society by 2030. Despite risks to party control, Mr. Xi bets China can manage these dangers through strict regulations on chatbots and restrictions on A.

I. entrepreneurs leaving the country.