[SXX]

To be honest I do not thihk you are wrong. Not in a way AI talent is underpaid, but they unlikely need to offer $1,000,000 sign up bonuses to just create AI lab. Its still pays better than average SWE job, but not x5-x10 more like in US.

Though in manufacturing China is dominating because of immense optimized supply chain, economy of scale and now workforce with know-how.

I honestly cant compare with US since I'm not from US, but to produce something in EU you will have weeks or months lags on logistics of source materials and components. And some industries only exist in some countries, etc.

In China in one single place you have anything you need to produce from a toaster to a car in hands reach or might be few days at most.

And I guess China did the same with education. Education is a lot cheaper there so they just have more talent.