This is Part 2 of a three-part series examining Chinese AI development from a genuinely Chinese vantage point. Part 1 traced the origins of China’s AI strategy and the export control era that reshaped it. Part 2 introduces the specific scientists, labs, and companies executing that strategy. Part 3 will look at where China is heading over the next five to ten years.

A Landscape Too Complex for One Headline

Western coverage often collapses Chinese AI into a single word: DeepSeek. That framing misses the real story. Chinese AI companies today form a layered, competitive ecosystem spanning giant technology platforms, a cluster of fiercely independent startups, and a fast-moving hardware sector trying to catch up on chips. Understanding this ecosystem means understanding how differently each layer behaves, and why.