AI Talent Management: A Strategic Imperative in the Age of Technological Competition

Preserving Homegrown AI Talent

The United States must prioritize the preservation, strengthening, and safeguarding of its domestic reservoir of AI talent. Despite being an attractive destination for foreign talent, America's shallow bench of skilled AI workers poses a significant challenge in competing with China.

K-12 education reforms are crucial, as well as initiatives like the National Defense Education Act of 1958 to boost AI education and research.

To protect against adversarial predation, the U.S. should prevent Chinese technology groups from poaching lead AI experts and consider a potential ban on U.S. citizens working for Chinese AI companies.

Government agencies should prepare for potential threats to AI developers' physical safety.

Capturing Foreign AI Talent

The United States needs to attract and retain highly skilled immigrants to compete in the AI race.

Congress should prioritize immigration reform measures that prioritize individuals with advanced expertise in AI and other critical technology fields.

The Biden administration aims to attract global AI talent for both study and residency.

Exempting foreign students with AI-related doctoral degrees from green card limits and expanding Fulbright scholarships are important steps.

Efforts to attract foreign talent should be balanced with measures to prevent intellectual property theft and espionage.

Targeting Adversarial AI Talent

The U.S. should consider measures to impede the recruitment and development of AI talent by adversarial powers like Russia and China.

In the aftermath of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. proposed eliminating visa requirements for Russian nationals with relevant degrees, though most emigrants chose to relocate elsewhere.

The U.S. has missed opportunities to attract high-skilled Chinese scientists, who are now increasingly returning to China.

No Chinese or Russian-born AI scientist should be allowed to work in the U.S. without undergoing rigorous screening and clearance.

Measures should be taken to protect the safety and well-being of star American AI scientists.

The moral and legal implications of targeting adversarial AI scientists in extreme scenarios require careful consideration.

In the race towards AI supremacy, the battle for human talent and ingenuity remains paramount.

About the Author

Iskander Rehman is a senior political scientist at the RAND Corporation.