Telegram founder Pavel Durov has attributed China’s remarkable progress in artificial intelligence to its educational system. Durov believes that the Soviet-style education system in China, which emphasizes intense competition, has played a significant role in the country’s AI advancements. He drew a contrast with Western schools, saying that they “hide grades to protect feelings.”
Pavel Durov sounded a cautionary note about the potential repercussions of the US failing to overhaul its education system. He warned that “If the US doesn’t reform its education system, it risks ceding tech leadership to China.” In the same post on X, he also shared an in-depth analysis of the Chinese AI startup DeepSeek, appending a lengthy note that outlined his thoughts on the matter.
Pavel Durov highlighted the remarkable progress made by a Chinese startup in the field of artificial intelligence, particularly in catching up with the US, and more specifically, OpenAI. According to Durov, the startup’s rapid advancement is not coincidental. “China’s progress in algorithmic efficiency hasn’t come out of nothing. Chinese students have long outperformed others in math and programming at international olympiads. When it comes to producing outstanding performers in math and science, China’s secondary education system is superior to that of the West. It fosters fierce competition among students, a principle borrowed from the highly efficient Soviet mode,” he explained.
Pavel Durov made the assertion that the majority of Western schools actively discourage competition among students, and in some cases, even refrain from publicly sharing grades in an effort to shield students from the pressures of competition.
Durov contended that while the intention behind Western schools’ approach may be to promote a supportive environment, it ultimately has the opposite effect, discouraging high-achieving students from striving for excellence. “Victory and defeat are two sides of the same coin. Eliminate the losers — and you eliminate the winners. Telling all students they are champions, regardless of performance, may seem kind — until you consider how quickly reality will shatter this illusion after graduation,” he pointed out.
He also stressed the value of living in a world where public grades and rankings are a reality, rather than being shielded from them.
Durov highlighted the importance of public rankings, noting that more are on the way. “AI benchmarks that demonstrate DeepSeek’s superiority are one of such public rankings. And more are coming. Unless the US secondary education system undergoes radical reform, China’s growing dominance in technology seems inevitable,” he added.
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