China's 'Genius Classes' Fuel Global Tech Dominance, AI Race

• China's elite "genius classes" in top high schools are a powerful engine behind its rise in advanced technology, especially AI.
• A Financial Times investigation reveals a fiercely competitive system producing thousands of scientific prodigies annually.
• These graduates power leading Chinese tech firms like ByteDance, Meituan, DeepSeek, and Alibaba's Qwen.
• The system funnels 100,000 students yearly into elite tracks for international Olympiads, leading to top universities and tech careers.
• China's focus on science education, dating back decades, has resulted in a massive output of STEM graduates and AI experts.

Why It Matters: China's "genius classes" are a key driver of its tech dominance, mass-producing AI talent for global impact.