---
title: The AI race is no longer about models, it's about ecosystems
description: "How China is building a digital belt and road for Artificial Intelligence.\nXi Jinping's first appearance at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference marks the beginning of a new phase in the AI race, one defined less by superior models than by the ability to build the world's dominant ecosystem."
---

[Slow food for thought](https://blog.syzgroup.com/slow-food-for-thought)

# [The AI race is no longer about models, it's about ecosystems](https://blog.syzgroup.com/slow-food-for-thought/the-ai-race-is-no-longer-about-models-its-about-ecosystems)

 Written by [Florian Marini, CFA, CMT](https://blog.syzgroup.com/slow-food-for-thought/author/florian-marini) | Jul 23, 2026, 7:32:05 AM

<https://blog.syzgroup.com/hubfs/Focus_260722_AIrace.pdf?hsLang=en><https://blog.syzgroup.com/hubfs/Focus-Changing%20investment%20preferences%20from%20boomers%20to%20GenZ-31.08.23.pdf?hsLang=en>

[View full post](https://blog.syzgroup.com/slow-food-for-thought/the-ai-race-is-no-longer-about-models-its-about-ecosystems)

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