AI talent is increasingly concentrated in China, a study released this week by the think tank Carnegie China found. China employed 41 per cent of the world’s leading AI researchers tracked by the study last year, ahead of the United States at 34 per cent.
That marked a reversal from 2022, when the US held a commanding lead with 46 per cent compared with China’s 27 per cent.
For China’s elite artificial intelligence researchers, Silicon Valley no longer holds the unrivalled appeal it once did. A growing number are opting to stay home to build their careers, helping China pull ahead in the global race for top-tier talent.
AI talent distribution
The study, titled “Who’s ahead in the global AI talent race”, reports the proportions of leading AI researchers by workplace for last year: 41 per cent in China and 34 per cent in the United States. It highlights the shift in the balance of elite AI research talent since 2022 and notes the domestic retention trend among Chinese researchers.
