The Biden administration’s strategy towards China is focused on de-risking and diversifying, rather than decoupling the two countries. This strategy manifests in export controls, adding entities to a list, and a possible de facto ban on TikTok. Chinese officials, however, view these efforts as containment against China.
In the realm of AI talent, the US is facing a dilemma as its efforts to curb China’s technological development may limit its own potential. Nearly half of the top AI researchers working in American AI companies are Chinese nationals, with China producing 47% of the world’s top AI researchers. This shift is attributed to changing immigration policies and practices in the US that could be contributing to foreign nationals feeling unwelcome.
Suspicion of Chinese scientists has persisted despite the end of the China Initiative under the Biden administration. Chinese students and academics continue to face challenges at US airports, with some being denied entry or having their visas canceled for unclear reasons. This has led to at least 1400 US-based Chinese scientists changing their affiliation from American to Chinese universities.
The United States’ defensive moves against China may have unintended consequences as they divert resources away from nurturing its own AI ecosystem. While the US is trying to counter China’s AI development, China is heavily investing in cultivating AI talent at home. This has led to the addition of new university majors focusing on frontier sci-tech areas.
There is a possibility of a US-China AI dialogue to address AI-related risks, particularly in military uses of AI. Both Xi and Biden have expressed interest in pursuing such a dialogue and have agreed to establish a bilateral AI communication channel. However, tensions between the two countries persist as the US House of Representatives passed a bill to force divestment of TikTok, leading to Chinese accusations of the US restricting China’s access to advanced technologies.
China has vowed to focus on its own technological development in response to the US defensive moves. The possibility of China directly fighting back against the US remains uncertain as Beijing continues to make advances in its technological capabilities. The US-China relationship in terms of AI development remains complex, with potential for dialogue and collaboration, but also significant challenges and tensions.
