Along with the United States, China has firmly established itself as a global leader in AI investment, with cities like Beijing and Shanghai at the forefront of venture funding for AI-native companies. According to data published by , Beijing leads the world in the share of venture funding directed toward AI projects, with 66 percent of local investment flowing into AI startups in 2023-2024, more than any other hub around the world. Though Silicon Valley still dominates in absolute dollars, the Californian tech epicenter is in second place, with a 62 percent share, followed by Toronto-Waterloo (50 percent) and Paris (43 percent).
As our chart shows, Shanghai also ranks in the top five globally, with a share of nearly 22 percent, surpassing other major Asian hubs like Singapore and Tokyo (16-17 percent). According to a Bank of America report published this year, China's AI investment is poised to reach unprecedented levels in 2025, with forecasts suggesting the mainland could deploy a total of between $84-98 billion in AI capital expenditure this year.
