Experts say the city’s rat problem remains an environmental management challenge that artificial intelligence can help monitor, but not solve on its own.

Korean coach Hong Myung-bo took responsibility for the result, saying, "I guess I made the wrong decisions, and that was the reason why we had a bad result. Nothing more, nothing less."

Beyond chips, data and computing power, the battle between Beijing and Washington is increasingly being fought over the researchers, engineers and entrepreneurs shaping the technology's future.

Senior Chinese defence industry official Bian Zhigang was also deputy director of the China National Space Administration (CNSA).

South Korea can still reach the last 32 as one of the best third-placed teams, but need results elsewhere to go their way.