AI Talent and Geopolitical Challenges Between the U.S. and China

President Donald Trump has prioritized excluding China from America’s cutting-edge technology to gain an upper hand in the AI race. Despite this focus, the U.S. confronts an internal challenge: many researchers driving American AI advancements originate from China. As Chinese President Xi Jinping visits Washington on September 24, artificial intelligence is a key issue. Discussions are underway about integrating a postponed AI dialogue, agreed upon in a previous meeting, into broader economic negotiations preceding the visit.

Trump emphasized the significance of the AI competition, stating, “WHOEVER WINS AI, WINS!” on Truth Social. He believes that imposing strict controls on AI would benefit Beijing.

The Talent Driving America’s AI Lead

The U.S. AI advantage heavily depends on foreign-born talent, with a significant portion from China. Notable examples include Yao Shunyu, trained at Tsinghua and Princeton, who moved from OpenAI to Tencent, now aiming to establish a long-term AGI research organization in China. Similarly, Yang Zhilin, with degrees from Tsinghua and Carnegie Mellon, founded Moonshot AI upon returning to China. His company has raised significant funds and developed the Kimi model series, utilized by American startups for cost-effective and efficient solutions.

Years of tension preceded these developments. The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace highlights issues such as visa uncertainties and distrust affecting Chinese researchers’ decisions to stay in the U.S.

The Carnegie study tracked elite Chinese-origin AI researchers in the U.S. in 2019. By 2025, 10 out of 100 had transitioned to roles in China, indicating a slight but noteworthy shift. The majority, however, continue to contribute to U.S. institutions.

The Impact of a Tougher U.S. Stance

Recent trends show a challenge in attracting fresh research talent to the U.S. The Paulson Institute data reveals a decrease in the proportion of Chinese AI researchers at American institutions from 2019 to 2022. Concurrently, the share working in China increased.

The Carnegie analysis outlines the factors contributing to this shift, including proposed visa restrictions in 2018 and concerns over potential racial profiling. A 2021 survey among Chinese researchers found that 42% felt racially targeted by the government.

Furthermore, the number of direct flights between the two nations remains low, reducing opportunities for academic exchange and collaboration.

Broad Effects of Researcher Departures

Academic institutions in the U.S. have documented departures of Chinese descent scholars, with Princeton noting around 50 tenure-track departures in 2025 alone. A study by Stanford highlighted a rise in ethnically Chinese scientists relocating to China from 2003 to 2022.

This trend is not limited to Chinese researchers. Omar Yaghi, a Nobel laureate from Jordan, left the University of California for Tsinghua University, showcasing broader implications of U.S. policy shifts.

Newsweek sought a response from the White House regarding these developments.

The Criteria for “Winning” the AI Race

There is no consensus on what constitutes victory in AI competition. Chinese state security minister Chen Yixin suggests U.S. AI models function as tools of cognitive warfare. Conversely, American officials emphasize the significance of maintaining technological leadership.

Chris Miller from Tufts University believes victory involves having the most advanced AI companies and swiftly deploying technology. Meanwhile, David Lin of the Special Competitive Studies Project views success in the ability to transform technological competence into productivity and public service improvements.

Carnegie’s Sheehan and Zhuang suggest investments in American education and visa policies to make the U.S. attractive for top-tier AI researchers worldwide, including those from China.

These considerations, however, are missing from the September 24 schedule.

For additional insights, contact Newsweek editors Jason Lemon and Sam Wilson.