China Earns $500 Million an Hour From Exports Supercharged by AI

The US and Chinese economies may still be on their way to decoupling but both are drawing strength from the same source.

Just as an AI-driven boom in business investment bolstered US economic growth at the start of this year, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Nomura Holdings Inc. estimate China’s overseas sales of semiconductors, computers and other products closely related to artificial intelligence accounted for about half of China’s export growth in April.

In total, Chinese shipments abroad climbed 14% from a year ago to a monthly record of $359 billion, meaning companies were reeling in roughly $500 million ...