{"slug": "ai-science-and-the-risks-in-chinas-reliance-on-imported-precision-equipment", "title": "AI, science and the risks in China’s reliance on imported precision equipment", "summary": "China's reliance on imported precision scientific instruments is hindering its use of artificial intelligence in research, according to Peking University professor Weinan E. Speaking at an AI for Science conference, E said the lack of domestically developed equipment limits access to high-quality experimental data, which is essential for training AI models.", "body_md": "# AI, science and the risks in China’s reliance on imported precision equipment\n\nThe country is dependent on overseas high-end scientific instruments, crimping use of artificial intelligence, researcher says\n\n[science,](https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3359886/chinas-xi-jinping-calls-innovation-system-overhaul-beat-global-tech-rivals?module=inline&pgtype=article)according to a leading Chinese researcher.\n\nAdvanced equipment such as mass spectrometers was essential for generating the high-quality experimental data needed to develop, validate and improve advanced scientific models, Weinan E, a professor at Peking University’s mathematical sciences school, said at the “AI for Science” conference in Shanghai last week.\n\n“Without domestically developed precision instruments, it becomes difficult to obtain first-hand, high-quality experimental data, leaving AI ‘like cooking without rice’,” E said, according to Shanghai-based news outlet The Paper last week.\n\nE, who is also a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, proposed the concept of “AI for Science” in 2018 as a new approach to research.\n\n[artificial intelligence](https://www.scmp.com/topics/artificial-intelligence?module=inline&pgtype=article)tools to improve scientific research, in areas ranging from improving computational modelling to experimental design.\n\nAnd to get the best data, researchers need the best equipment.", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/ai-science-and-the-risks-in-chinas-reliance-on-imported-precision-equipment", "canonical_source": "https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3359979/ai-science-and-risks-chinas-reliance-imported-precision-equipment?utm_source=rss_feed", "published_at": "2026-07-10 03:00:07+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-07-10 03:12:16.881918+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["artificial-intelligence", "ai-policy", "ai-research"], "entities": ["Weinan E", "Peking University", "Chinese Academy of Sciences", "The Paper"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/ai-science-and-the-risks-in-chinas-reliance-on-imported-precision-equipment", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/ai-science-and-the-risks-in-chinas-reliance-on-imported-precision-equipment.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/ai-science-and-the-risks-in-chinas-reliance-on-imported-precision-equipment.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/ai-science-and-the-risks-in-chinas-reliance-on-imported-precision-equipment.jsonld"}}