How Do You Teach Computer Science in the A.I. Era?

“Carnegie Mellon University has a well-earned reputation as one of the nation’s top schools for computer science. Its graduates go on to work at big tech companies, start-ups and research labs worldwide.

 

Still, for all its past success, the department’s faculty is planning a retreat this summer to rethink what the school should be teaching to adapt to the rapid advancement of generative artificial intelligence.

 

The technology has “really shaken computer science education,” said Thomas Cortina, a professor and an associate dean for the university’s undergraduate programs.

 

Computer science, more than any other field of study, is being challenged by generative A.I.

 

The A.I. technology behind chatbots like ChatGPT, which can write essays and answer questions with humanlike fluency, is making inroads across academia. But A.I. is coming fastest and most forcefully to computer science, which emphasizes writing code, the language of computers.

 

Big tech companies and start-ups have introduced A.I. assistants that can generate code and are rapidly becoming more capable.

 

And in January, Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s chief executive, predicted that A.I. technology would effectively match the performance of a midlevel software engineer sometime this year.

 

Computer science programs at universities across the country are now scrambling to understand the implications of the technological transformation, grappling with what to keep teaching in the A.I. era. Ideas range from less emphasis on mastering programming languages to focusing on hybrid courses designed to inject computing into every profession, as educators ponder what the tech jobs of the future will look like in an A.I. economy.

 

“We’re seeing the tip of the A.I. tsunami,” said Jeannette Wing, a computer science professor who is executive vice president of research at Columbia University.

 

Heightening the sense of urgency is a tech job market that has tightened in recent years. Computer science graduates are finding that job offers, once plentiful, are often scarce. Tech companies are already relying more on A.I. for some aspects of coding, eliminating some entry-level work.

 

Some educators now believe the discipline could broaden to become more like a liberal arts degree, with a greater emphasis on critical thinking and communication skills.

 

The National Science Foundation is funding a program, Level Up AI, to bring together university and community college educators and researchers to move toward a shared vision of the essentials of A.I. education. The 18-month project, run by the Computing Research Association, a research and education nonprofit, in partnership with New Mexico State University, is organizing conferences and round tables and producing white papers to share resources and best practices.

 

The N.S.F.-backed initiative was created because of “a sense of urgency that we need a lot more computing students — and more people — who know about A.I. in the work force,” said Mary Lou Maher, a computer scientist and a director of the Computing Research Association.

 

The future of computer science education, Dr. Maher said, is likely to focus less on coding and more on computational thinking and A.I. literacy. Computational thinking involves breaking down problems into smaller tasks, developing step-by-step solutions and using data to reach evidence-based conclusions.

 

A.I. literacy is an understanding — at varying depths for students at different levels — of how A.I. works, how to use it responsibly and how it is affecting society. Nurturing informed skepticism, she said, should be a goal.

 

At Carnegie Mellon, as faculty members prepare for their gathering, Dr. Cortina said his own view was that the coursework should include instruction in the traditional basics of computing and A.I. principles, followed by plenty of hands-on experience designing software using the new tools.

 

“We think that’s where it’s going,” he said. “But do we need a more profound change in the curriculum?”

 

Currently, individual computer science professors choose whether to allow students to use A.I. Last year, Carnegie Mellon endorsed using A.I. for introductory courses. Initially, Dr. Cortina said, many of the students regarded A.I. as a “magic bullet” to quickly complete homework assignments, which involved writing programs.

 

“But they didn’t understand half of what the code was,” he said, leading many to realize the value of knowing how to write and debug code themselves. “The students are resetting.”

 

That’s true for many computer science students embracing the new A.I. tools, with some reservations. They say they use A.I for building initial prototype programs, for checking for errors in code and as a digital tutor to answer questions. But they are reluctant to rely on it too much, fearing it dulls their computing acumen.

 

Many students say they send out 100 to 200 applications for summer internships and first jobs. Connor Drake, who will be a senior next fall at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, counts himself lucky, having scored an interview after submitting only 30 applications. He was offered a job as a cybersecurity intern this summer for Duke Energy, a large utility company, in Charlotte.

 

“A computer science degree used to be a golden ticket to the promised land of jobs,” Mr. Drake, 22, said. “That’s no longer the case.”

 

Mr. Drake’s personal A.I.-defense strategy is to expand his skill set. In addition to his computer science major, he has minored in political science with a specialty in security and intelligence studies — a field where his expertise in cybersecurity could well be applied. He is president of a university cybersecurity club and has served in student government.

 

Mr. Drake, like other computer science students, has been forced to adjust to an increasingly tough tech job market. Several factors, labor experts say, are at work. Big tech companies, in particular, have curbed their hiring for the past few years, a sharp pullback from the pandemic-era boom years.

 

 The exception is the hectic recruiting of a relatively small number of the most coveted A.I. experts, who are being offered lucrative pay packages.

 

But most technology workers do not work for tech companies. Overall employment for workers in tech occupations had generally held up until recently — down 6 percent since February, according to government statistics.

 

Employers have sent a sharper signal with a significant pullback in tech job listings. In the past three years, there has been a 65 percent drop from companies seeking workers with two years of experience or less, according to an analysis by CompTIA, a technology research and education organization. The decline in listings for tech workers with all levels of experience is down 58 percent.

 

“We’re mainly seeing a postpandemic unwinding of hiring and the impact of the current economic uncertainty,” said Tim Herbert, chief research officer at CompTIA. “We don’t really have a clear A.I. effect yet.”

 

While the road ahead for computer science education may be uncertain, the market for A.I.-assisted software is poised for growth, experts say. A.I. is a productivity tool, and every new wave of computing — the personal computer, the internet, the smartphone — has increased the demand for software and for programmers.

 

This time, they say, the result may be a burst of technology democratization as chatbot-style tools are used by people in fields from medicine to marketing to create their own programs, tailored for their industry, fed by industry-specific data sets.

 

“The growth in software engineering jobs may decline, but the total number of people involved in programming will increase,” said Alex Aiken, a professor of computer science at Stanford.” [1]

 

1. How Do You Teach Computer Science in the A.I. Era? Lohr, Steve.  New York Times (Online) New York Times Company. Jun 30, 2025.

Nutolę nuo Vakarų orbitos, rusai Kinijoje randa naują pavyzdį

Tai didžiausia buvusio JAV prezidento Joe Bideno strateginė klaida.

 

Šiame straipsnyje pabrėžiamas Rusijos nuotaikų pokytis, Kinijai tampant geidžiamesniu ir įtakingesniu Rusijos visuomenės ir kultūros elementu, Kinijai darant įtaką įvairiems aspektams, tokiems, kaip kalbų mokymasis ir vartojimo prekių pasirinkimas.

 

Kalbant apie teiginį, kad šis pokytis yra „didžiausia buvusio JAV prezidento Joe Bideno strateginė klaida“, svarbu atsižvelgti į tai, kad užsienio politika yra sudėtinga ir jai įtakos turi daugelis veiksnių, kurių negali kontroliuoti viena administracija.

 

Keletas šaltinių teigia, kad Rusijos ir Kinijos partnerystė, laikui bėgant, gilėjo, ypač po įvykių Ukrainoje ir vėlesnių Vakarų sankcijų, kurias suorganizavo p. Bidenas.

 

Kai kuriose analizėse pripažįstamas Kinijos ir Rusijos santykių stiprėjimas ir jo poveikis JAV interesams. Pavyzdžiui, vienas šaltinis mini, kad abiejų šalių strateginė partnerystė, greičiausiai, išliks tol, kol jos abi laikys Jungtines Valstijas pagrindiniu pavojingu priešininku, teigia „Brookings“.

 

Tačiau mintis, kad tai yra tiesioginis vieno konkretaus prezidento „strateginės klaidos“ rezultatas, yra interpretacijos ir diskusijų klausimas.

 

Keletas šaltinių pateikia skirtingas perspektyvas apie JAV požiūrį į Rusijos ir Kinijos santykius:

 

Kai kurie šaltiniai aptaria Bideno administracijos požiūrį į Rusiją, įskaitant sankcijų įvedimą ir siekį pakenkti Putino nacionalizmui bei Rusijos beveik sąjungai su Kinija.

 

Kiti šaltiniai pabrėžia JAV ir Kinijos santykių iššūkius ir sunkumus, siekiant stabilumo bei valdant jų sąveiką.

 

Kai kuriose analizėse teigiama, kad JAV galimybės suskaldyti Kiniją ir Rusiją gali būti ribotos.

 

Aptariama „atvirkštinė Nixono“ strategija, kuria siekiama suskaldyti Kiniją ir Rusiją, o šaltiniai teigia, kad ji gali būti neveiksminga dėl glaudžių ryšių ir abipusės naudos tarp dviejų tautų.

 

Išvada tokia, kad energingi Bideno veiksmai Ukrainoje sukėlė susirūpinimą tiek Rusijoje, tiek Kinijoje. Susidarė didžiulė neigiama reakcija. Prezidentas Trumpas naudoja diplomatiją žalai suvaldyti, kol kas be jokios naudos Amerikai. Nereikia kovoti su Rusija ir Kinija vienu metu, sakė Amerikos diplomatijos veteranas.

 

„Rusams, kurie kažkada garbino viską, kas vakarietiška, Kinija tapo madinga. Jaunimas mokosi mandarinų kalbos, o kinų kultūra ir prekės tapo visur paplitusios Maskvoje.

 

Stovėdama po pagodos stogu prie įėjimo į platų kinų tematikos parką Maskvoje, Aliona Ijevskaja ruošė namų darbus savo universitetui. Puošnių paviljonų, arkinių tiltų, tvenkinio ir Konfucijaus statulos fone draugas nufilmavo ją telefonu, trykštančią entuziazmu dėl parko – mandarinų kalba.

 

19-metė ponia Ijevskaja sakė, kad pasirinko studijuoti šią kalbą Maskvos miesto universitete, kur yra pirmakursė, nes mano, kad kinai kyla ir jos perspektyvos bus geresnės, jei ji mokės šią kalbą. Dabar daugelis Maskvos universitetų siūlo panašius kursus.

 

„Daugelis jaunų žmonių nori vykti į Kiniją studijuoti“, – sakė ponia Ijevskaja. „Kinijoje yra tiek daug perspektyvų“, – pridūrė ji. „Ji tokia šauni ir taip greitai vystosi.“

 

Šalyje, kuri dar visai neseniai garbino viską, kas vakarietiška, įvyko kai kas netikėto: Kinija tapo geidžiama ir madinga rusams.

 

Kiniški automobiliai tapo įprastu vaizdu Maskvos gatvėse. Rusijos elito nariai samdo kinų aukles, kad šios paskatintų jų vaikus anksti mokytis mandarinų kalbos. Sostinės muziejai ir renginių centrai garsiai nori surengti kinų parodas ir pasirodymus.

 

„Pastarieji treji metai leido rusams pamatyti Rytus visiškai naujoje šviesoje – ne kaip egzotišką alternatyvą Europai, o kaip pagrindinę verslo, turizmo ir studijų kryptį“, – elektroniniame laiške rašė Kirilas V. Babajevas, Rusijos mokslų akademijos Kinijos ir šiuolaikinės Azijos instituto vadovas.

 

„Rusijos žmonės stebi šią tendenciją su tokiu susidomėjimu, tarsi ką tik būtų atradę kitą planetą“, – pridūrė jis.

 

Po įvykių Ukrainoje Kinija tapo geriausia Kremliaus drauge viešumoje, net ir tuo metu, kai kai kurie Rusijos pareigūnai ir toliau labai įtariai žiūri į Pekino ketinimus. Ji teikė diplomatinę paramą ir pirko rusišką naftą bei dujas. Kinijos vadovas Xi Jinpingas Kremliuje susitiko su prezidentu Vladimiru V. Putinu, abu šiltai šypsojosi į fotoaparatus. Kinija taip pat padėjo pakeisti vakarietiškas vartojimo prekes, kurių rusai negali įsigyti dėl sankcijų.

 

Visa tai paskatino augančią maniją dėl kiniškų prekių ir kultūros visoje Rusijoje.

 

Maskvoje kelios valstybinės mokyklos, siūlančios kinų kalbą, yra perpildytos, o mandarinų kalba yra pagrindinė ne tik lingvistikos universitetų, bet ir technikos mokyklų dalis. Pastaraisiais metais smarkiai išaugo laisvų darbo vietų, kurioms reikalinga kinų kalba, skaičius, teigiama populiarioje darbo skelbimų svetainėje.

 

Teatro režisieriai iš Kinijos stato pjeses pagal šiuolaikinius kinų romanus Rusijos teatruose, kurie kadaise priimdavo pagrindinius Vakarų menininkus. Balandžio mėnesį dideliame Maskvos muziejuje buvo surengta porceliano, keramikos ir kitų artefaktų iš Kinijos nacionalinio muziejaus Pekine paroda. Knygynuose plačiai eksponuojamos knygos apie kinų kultūrą.

 

Sausio pabaigoje Maskvos rotušė papuošė miesto centrą, švęsdama Mėnulio Naujuosius metus, pėsčiųjų gatves papuošdama raudonais žibintais ir šalia Raudonosios aikštės pastatydama didžiąją pandą, apsikabinusią Kalėdų eglutę.

 

Maskvos metro buvo pastatytas raudonas kinų tematikos traukinys, metro žemėlapis buvo išverstas į kinų kalbą. Miesto reklaminiuose stenduose ir valstybinėje televizijoje buvo rodomos Xi Jinpingo „mėgstamiausios frazės“ („skani sriuba gaminama, derinant skirtingus ingredientus“ – viena iš jų), o kinų restoranai dygo miestuose visoje Rusijoje.

 

Valentinas Gogolis, įmonės, teikiančios aukles Rusijos elitui, įkūrėjas, teigė, kad jis stengėsi patenkinti nuolat augančią kinų kalba kalbančiųjų paklausą. Pasak jo, atlyginimai dabar siekia 5000 dolerių per mėnesį, o tai paprastai yra daug pagal Rusijos standartus, ir vis tiek „įdarbinimo procesas buvo gana sunkus“.

 

Pasak jo, angliškai kalbančios, auklės vis dar yra populiariausios, tačiau, kiniškai kalbančios, pakeitė prancūzakalbes antroje vietoje.

 

„Žmonės dabar ją laiko papildoma antrąja kalba, papildančia anglų kalbą“, – sakė ponas Gogolis, kurio įmonė vis dar vadinasi „English Nanny“.

 

Kiniški automobiliai yra vis labiau matomas Rusijos simpatijos Kinijai ženklas. Kinijoje pagaminti automobiliai užplūdo Rusijos rinką – vien pernai jų buvo parduota daugiau, nei 900 000, teigia automobilių rinkos konsultacijų bendrovė „Autostat“. Palyginimui, 2021 m. jų buvo parduota apie 115 000.

 

Rusijos radijo laidų vedėjas ir automobilių tinklaraščio „YouTube“ įkūrėjas Sergejus Stillavinas anksčiau keliaudavo po Europą, kad apžvelgtų europietiškus automobilius. Dabar beveik visi jo tinklaraštyje rodomi automobiliai yra kiniški.

 

„BMW vis dar prestižiškesnis“, – sakė jis, kalbėdamas apie giliai įsišaknijusius pageidavimus Rusijoje. „Tačiau pažįstu žmonių, kurie perėjo nuo „Porsche“ prie „Li Xiang“ – kiniško automobilių prekės ženklo, dabar visur esančio Maskvos gatvėse.

 

Nors neabejotinai daug daugiau entuziazmo jaučiama dėl kiniškų prekių, vis dar jaučiamas ilgesys vakarietiškų produktų, kurių pastaraisiais metais gauti vis sunkiau.

 

Maskvos taksi vairuotojai, vairuojantys kiniškus automobilius, teigia, kad vis dar mieliau pirktų vokišką automobilį, jei jo kaina būtų tokia pati. Socialiniuose tinkluose taip pat plinta vaizdo įrašai, kuriuose šaipomasi iš kiniškų automobilių. Viename iš jų rusas savo merginai dovanoja kinišką automobilį. Vos tik ji pamato stilingą automobilį, jos veidas paniursta.

 

„Tikiuosi, juokauji“, – sako ji. „Nevairuosiu kiniško, tai ne „Porsche“ ir ne „Mercedes“.“

 

Vakarietiškas prekės ženklas taip pat išlieka įprastas visoje Rusijos sostinėje. Naujas elitinis pastatų kompleksas Maskvoje pavadintas įkvepiančiais Londono tematikos pavadinimais, tokiais, kaip „Knightsbridge Private Park“ kompleksas ir „Belgravia“, o ne tokiais, kurie primena Šanchajų ar Pekiną. Netgi Kinijos verslo klasteris netoli Maskvos vadinamas „GreenWood“.

 

„Raudonasis šilkas“ – bendras Rusijos ir Kinijos filmas, kuriame 1927 m. transsibiriniame traukinyje kovoja kinų ir rusų šnipai su japonų priešais, kinų nacionalistais ir jų rėmėjais britais, – nepaisant, valstybės remiamos, reklamos, tapo kasų katastrofa.

 

Ir tik vienas kinų mados prekės ženklas „Ellassay“ pakeitė vakarietiškas prabangias parduotuves, kurios anksčiau dominavo Raudonosios aikštės universalinės parduotuvės GUM vitrinose.

 

Aleksandras Grekas, rusų žurnalų redaktorius ir Kinijos entuziastas, turintis penkis vaikus, teigė, kad jaunimo požiūris į Kiniją skiriasi kartų požiūriu.

 

Jo vyresni, nei 14 metų vaikai vis dar labiau orientuojasi į Vakarus, tačiau jaunesnieji mažai žino apie Vakarų kultūrą ir yra susižavėję Azija, sakė jis.

 

„Jie nemato nieko, kas pagaminta Jungtinėse Valstijose“, – sakė 59 metų ponas Grekas, gurkšnodamas žaliąją arbatą Maskvos kavinėje ir kalbėdamas apie savo jaunesnius vaikus. „Viskas, kas juos supa, pagaminta Kinijoje.“

 

Visi pono Greko vaikai mokėsi kinų kalbos. Jo 14 metų dukra laisvai kalba ja ir kitą vasarą praleis Kinijoje, gyvendama su vietos šeima, „kaip vaikai anksčiau važiuodavo į Angliją“, kad patobulintų anglų kalbos žinias. Ponui Grekui ir jo šeimai logika paprasta.

 

„Kinija dabar yra vienintelė mūsų draugė“, – sakė jis, išvardydamas technologijų sritis, kuriose, jo manymu, Kinija yra pasaulinė lyderė, pavyzdžiui, saulės energija ir dirbtinis intelektas. „Ir ji tampa lyderiaujančia šalimi pasaulyje.“

 

Kiti rusai yra skeptiškesni, sakydami, kad padidėjęs susidomėjimas Kinija, greičiausiai, buvo laikina santuoka iš fiktyvių priežasčių.

 

Kinų kalbos ir kultūros specialistė Julija Kuznecova sakė prisimenanti laikus, kai mandarinų kalbos mokymasis buvo laikomas egzotišku, o sinologai buvo marginalinė grupė. Ji sakė mananti, kad Kinijos manija baigsis, kai pagerės santykiai su Vakarais.

 

„Giliai širdyje niekas nepasikeitė“, – sakė ji. Rusams, pasak ponios Kuznecovos, Kinija „yra svetima kultūra“.

 

„Net arabų pasaulis mums yra daug artimesnis“, – sakė ji, paminėdama Dubajų. kaip vieną iš vietų, kur rusai plūdo. „Mes galime būti artimi su Europa tik todėl, kad mus vienija panaši ar net tokia pati kultūra.“” [1]

 

1. Drifting From the West’s Orbit, Russians Find a New Role Model in China. Nechepurenko, Ivan; Heitmann, Nanna.  New York Times (Online) New York Times Company. Jun 30, 2025.

Drifting From the West’s Orbit, Russians Find a New Role Model in China

 

This is a biggest strategic mistake of previous USA president Joe Biden.

This article highlights a shift in Russian sentiment, with China becoming a more desirable and influential presence in Russian society and culture, impacting various aspects like language learning and consumer goods preferences.

Regarding the  assertion that this shift is the "biggest strategic mistake of previous USA president Joe Biden," it's important to consider that foreign policy is complex and influenced by many factors beyond the control of a single administration. Several sources suggest that the Russia-China partnership has deepened over time, particularly after the events Ukraine and the subsequent Western sanctions, organized by Mr. Biden.

Some analyses acknowledge the strengthening of the China-Russia relationship and its implications for U.S. interests. For instance, one source mentions that the two countries' strategic partnership will likely persist as long as they both view the United States as their primary dangerous adversary, according to Brookings.

However, the idea that this is a direct result of one single "strategic mistake" by a specific president is a matter of interpretation and debate.

Several sources provide different perspectives on the US approach to Russia-China relations:

    Some sources discuss the Biden administration's approach to Russia, including imposing sanctions and aiming to undermine Putin's nationalism and Russia's near-alliance with China.

    Other sources highlight challenges in the US-China relationship and the difficulties in finding stability and managing their interactions.

    Some analyses argue that the US might be limited in its ability to split China and Russia.

    A "reverse Nixon" strategy, aimed at dividing China and Russia, is discussed, with sources suggesting it might not be effective due to the deep ties and mutual benefits between the two nations.

A conclusion is that energetic Biden’s actions in Ukraine induced concerns both in Russia, and in China. A huge backlash formed. President Trump is using diplomacy to contain the damage, so far without any benefits to America. Don't fight Russia and China at the same time, explained a veteran of American diplomacy.

 

“China has become trendy for Russians who once worshiped everything Western. Young people are learning Mandarin, and Chinese culture and goods have become ubiquitous in Moscow.

 

Standing under a pagoda roof at the entrance to a sprawling Chinese-themed park in Moscow, Alyona Iyevskaya was doing homework for her university. Against a backdrop of ornate pavilions, arched bridges, a pond and a statue of Confucius, a friend filmed her on a camera phone gushing about the park — in Mandarin.

 

Ms. Iyevskaya, 19, said she chose to study the language at Moscow City University, where she is a first-year student, because she believes China is on the rise and her prospects will be better if she speaks the language. Many Moscow universities now offer similar courses.

 

“Many young people want to go to China to study,” Ms. Iyevskaya said. “There are so many prospects in China,” she added. “It is so cool, and it is developing so fast.”

 

In a country that until recently worshiped everything Western, something surprising has happened: China has become desirable and trendy for Russians.

 

Chinese cars have become a common sight on Moscow streets. Members of the Russian elite are hiring Chinese nannies to encourage their children to learn Mandarin early. The capital’s museums and performance centers are clamoring to put on Chinese exhibitions and shows.

 

“The last three years let the Russians see the East in a totally new light, not as an exotic alternative to Europe but as a mainstream direction for business, tourism and studies,” Kirill V. Babaev, the head of the Institute of China and Contemporary Asia at the Russian Academy of Sciences, said in an email.

 

“The Russian people are following this trend with so much interest, as if they had just discovered another planet,” he added.

 

Since the events in Ukraine, China has become the Kremlin’s best friend in public, even as some Russian officials retain a deep suspicion of Beijing’s intentions. It has provided diplomatic support and bought Russian oil and gas. China’s leader, Xi Jinping, has met with President Vladimir V. Putin in the Kremlin, both smiling warmly for the cameras. China has also helped replace Western consumer goods that Russians cannot buy because of sanctions.

 

All that has fed into a growing mania for Chinese goods and culture across Russia.

 

In Moscow, the few public schools that offer Chinese are oversubscribed, and Mandarin is a staple not only at linguistic universities, but also at technical schools. Employment vacancies requiring Chinese have soared in recent years, according to a popular job website.

 

Theater directors from China stage plays based on contemporary Chinese novels in Russian theaters that once welcomed leading Western artists. In April, a major museum in Moscow hosted an exhibition of porcelain, ceramics and other artifacts from the National Museum of China in Beijing. Books about Chinese culture are featured prominently in bookstores.

 

In late January, Moscow City Hall decorated the city center to celebrate Lunar New Year, covering pedestrian streets with red lanterns and installing a giant panda hugging a Christmas tree next to Red Square.

 

Moscow’s subway laid on a red Chinese-themed train and translated its map into Chinese. The city’s billboards and state television featured Mr. Xi’s “favorite catchphrases,” (“delicious soup is made by combining different ingredients” is one), and Chinese restaurants have been sprouting in cities across Russia.

 

Valentin Gogol, the founder of a company that supplies nannies for members of the Russian elite, said he had been scrambling to meet ever-growing demand for Chinese speakers. Salaries now run to $5,000 per month, he said, generally high by Russian standards, and still, “The process of recruiting has been quite hard.”

 

English-speaking nannies are still the most popular, he said, but Chinese-speaking ones have replaced French speakers in second place.

 

“People now see it as an additional second language to complement English,” said Mr. Gogol, whose company is still called English Nanny.

 

Chinese cars are one increasingly visible sign of the Russian embrace of China. Cars made in China have flooded the Russian market, with more than 900,000 sold last year alone, according to Autostat, an auto market consultancy. That compared with about 115,000 in 2021.

 

Sergei Stillavin, a Russian radio host and founder of a car blog on YouTube, used to travel around Europe to review European cars. Now almost all cars featured in his blog are Chinese.

 

“BMW is still more prestigious,” he said, speaking about deeply entrenched preferences in Russia. “But I know people who switched from Porsche to Li Xiang,” a Chinese car brand now ubiquitous on Moscow’s streets.

 

While there is undoubtedly much more enthusiasm for Chinese goods, there is still a lingering longing for Western products that have become increasingly difficult to obtain in recent years.

 

Taxi drivers in Chinese cars in Moscow say they would still rather buy a German car if it were the same price. And videos have circulated on social media poking fun at Chinese cars. In one, a Russian man presents a Chinese car as a gift to his girlfriend. As soon as she sees the stylish car, her face falls.

 

“I hope you are joking,” she says. “I won’t drive a Chinese one, this is not a Porsche, or a Mercedes.”

 

Western branding also remains common across the Russian capital. A new elite building complex in Moscow bears aspirational London-themed names like Knightsbridge Private Park complex and Belgravia, rather than ones evoking Shanghai or Beijing. And even a Chinese business cluster near Moscow is called GreenWood.

 

“Red Silk,” a joint Russian-Chinese movie with Chinese and Russian spies battling Japanese enemies, Chinese nationalists and their British backers on a trans-Siberian train in 1927, was a box-office disaster despite state-sponsored advertising.

 

And only one Chinese fashion brand, Ellassay, has replaced the Western luxury boutiques that used to dominate the storefront of GUM, Red Square’s department store.

 

Aleksandr Grek, a Russian magazine editor and a China enthusiast with five children, said there were generational differences in how China was viewed by the young.

 

His children over 14 are still more Western-oriented, but the younger ones know little about Western culture and are infatuated with Asia, he said.

 

“They don’t see anything that is made in the United States,” said Mr. Grek, 59, sipping green tea in a Moscow cafe and talking of his younger children. “Everything that surrounds them is made in China.”

 

Mr. Grek’s children all studied Chinese. His 14-year-old daughter speaks it fluently and will spend the next summer in China living with a local family “just like children used to go to England” to improve their English. For Mr. Grek and his family, the reasoning is simple.

 

“China is our only friend now,” he said, listing technological fields where he sees China as the world’s leader, like solar power and artificial intelligence. “And it is becoming top country in the world.”

 

Other Russians are more skeptical, saying that the increased interest in China was likely a temporary marriage of convenience.

 

Yulia Kuznetsova, a Chinese language and culture specialist, said she remembered when learning Mandarin was considered exotic and Sinologists were a fringe group. She said she thought that the China craze would end once relations with the West improved.

 

“Deep down nothing has changed,” she said. For Russians, Ms. Kuznetsova said, China “is a foreign culture.”

 

“Even the Arab world is much closer to us,” she said, citing Dubai as one place where Russians were flocking. “We can only be close with Europe because we are united by a culture that is similar or even the same.”” [1]

 

1. Drifting From the West’s Orbit, Russians Find a New Role Model in China. Nechepurenko, Ivan; Heitmann, Nanna.  New York Times (Online) New York Times Company. Jun 30, 2025.