China's Key Role in AI Highlights Need for US Immigration Reform
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Nearly half of top AI researchers globally are from China, highlighting China's key role in the US AI industry. Many top researchers were educated in China then came to the US for graduate school and jobs.
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The US depends on foreign talent to make up for shortfalls in homegrown STEM talent, especially in math, due to structural inequality and cultural barriers in the education system.
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More top Chinese AI researchers are now staying in China instead of coming to the US, due to restrictive US policies and China's advances in AI higher education.
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India lacks the depth of talent China has in AI, so diversifying away from Chinese researchers has limitations.
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To maintain leadership, the US needs immigration reform like improving the H1-B visa system and reducing hostility toward Chinese scientists.