- Joined
- Sep 22, 2008
- Messages
- 86,957
- Points
- 113
The AI dilemma: To compete with China, the U.S. needs Chinese talent
Immigration restrictions can accelerate the flight of top talent, threatening the strategy that it is better to have the brightest minds working for U.S. companies.
By
Mehran Gul is the author of The New Geography of Innovation.13 October 2025

Alex Nabaum for Rest of World
>
Ideas
Arguments, opinions and essays from a global perspective.
As Washington tries to curb Chinese influence in artificial intelligence, Silicon Valley can’t get enough of Chinese researchers. The tension highlights a paradox at the heart of America’s AI strategy: Lawmakers are pushing to limit Chinese talent on national security grounds, while for tech companies, many of the brightest minds come from China. How the U.S. reconciles these competing pressures could shape who leads the global race in AI.