Tsinghua University has surpassed MIT, Stanford, Princeton, and Harvard in AI and machine learning patents, amassing 4,986 patents between 2005 and the end of 2024. China now holds over half of all active AI patents globally, according to LexisNexis data.
The university also has more AI research papers among the 100 most cited than any other school at last count. While the US still holds the most influential AI patents and the top performing models, American institutions produced 40 notable AI models in 2024 compared to 15 from Chinese organizations, according to Stanford’s AI Index Report. China’s share of the world’s elite AI researchers — the top 2% — rose from 10% in 2019 to 26% in 2022. The US share fell from 35% to 28% during the same period, according to the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation.
This surge in AI innovation from Chinese institutions is indicative of a broader shift in global technology leadership, with China’s research and development efforts gaining significant traction. While the US maintains its position in terms of influential patents and top models, the rapid growth of AI patents and researchers in China signals a major shift in the global tech landscape.