The Chinese government has been pushing the development of China's artificial intelligence capabilities for several years, but it faces a crucial stumbling block -- a lack of highly-trained AI professionals. A recent Goldman Sachs report says China is suffering from a gap of over 5 million AI professionals. Behind that gap is educational competition between China and the United States. Chen Tong takes a closer look.

This is not the first year the University of Massachusetts has come to China to enroll students. But this year, the university is introducing prospective Chinese students to one of its hottest majors -- electrical and computer engineering.

RUSSELL TESSIER, ASSOCIATE DEAN UMASS-AMHERST "We had a lot of Chinese students that study computer engineering. We've seen pretty steady amount over the past ten years or so. We have three to forty percent of our graduate students in computer engineering are from China. The University of Massachusetts is also working with Shanghai Jiaotong University on a special offer for Chinese students. Students who finish courses in both universities are awarded dual degrees. Many other US universities also offer attractive special programs for Chinese students. In 2017, over 350,000 Chinese students studied in the United States. Engineering and Science are among their favorite majors."

COLLEGE STUDENT "We can learn a lot of advanced technology in the industry if we study abroad. There are more opportunities overseas."

COLLEGE STUDENT "I think it's better to finish graduate courses in foreign countries. Professional research overseas is more advanced than in China."

It has all created significant human resources pressure on the domestic AI industry. A report from Tencent shows the number of professionals working in AI in the US is 14 times the number in China, an obvious drag on the government's plan to expand the country's AI industry. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology wants the value of China's AI industry to reach 150 billion yuan in 2020. While the government has been putting major efforts into solving the AI gap, human resources professionals say even more is needed.

NATHAN LI, CEO KELLY HUMAN RESOURCES CHINA "In term of AI professionals, China started about five years ago, but the US has a long history. In the US, two quarters of AI professionals have longer than ten-year working experience but in China only one third of AI professionals have longer than ten-year working experience.  What the government can do is to provide better environment, more incentives, better policies and to make it easier for international global talent to settle down in China.

Chinese educational institutions are actively seeking catch-up solutions. In April, China's first AI teaching materials for high school students were distributed. And domestic universities including Tianjin University and Nankai University have just started offering majors in artificial intelligence recently.