Microsoft's Brad Smith warns about China's momentum in AI

Watch on YouTube ↗  |  January 13, 2026 at 18:52  |  1:34  |  CNBC
Speakers
Deirdre Bosa — Anchor/Reporter, CNBC Tech Check

Summary

CNBC Tech Check's Deirdre Bosa reports on Microsoft's Brad Smith warning about China's momentum in AI. A Microsoft report shows Chinese open-source models like DeepSeek gaining global adoption, including 6-10% in North America. Bosa says the messaging cuts both ways, with US Big Tech using national security concerns to push for speed while Chinese AI executives downplay progress to secure NVIDIA chips. Investors should watch the narrative shift but treat it skeptically.

  • Microsoft's Brad Smith warned about China's AI momentum.
  • Microsoft report shows Chinese open-source models like DeepSeek gaining share outside the West.
  • Adoption of DeepSeek in North America is estimated at 6-10%.
  • US Big Tech may be emphasizing China AI risk to press policymakers for speed and flexibility.
  • Governance is described as a new bottleneck in AI.
  • Chinese AI executives including Alibaba are downplaying progress, possibly to secure NVIDIA chips.
  • Investors should monitor the policy narrative shift but take it with a grain of salt.
Ideas
Deirdre Bosa Anchor/Reporter, CNBC Tech Check 0:21
Monitor China AI adoption momentum
Chinese open-source AI models such as DeepSeek are gaining real global adoption, including a 6-10% share in North America, so investors should monitor China's AI momentum; if the US slows down, the gap could close faster than expected. The narrative shift is aimed at policymakers and should be taken with a grain of salt.
Deirdre Bosa Anchor/Reporter, CNBC Tech Check 1:21
China AI still needs NVIDIA chips
Chinese AI executives, including Alibaba, are publicly downplaying their own progress, perhaps to secure access to NVIDIA chips they still need to accelerate. This indicates continued Chinese AI dependency on NVIDIA hardware.
Up Next

This CNBC video, published January 13, 2026, features Deirdre Bosa discussing China AI, NVDA. 2 trade ideas extracted by AI with direction and confidence scoring.

Speakers: Deirdre Bosa  · Tickers: China AI, NVDA