As US-China tech race moves to talent, change in America’s immigration policy may make it ‘troubling’ for Apple, Google, OpenAI, Microsoft and other top tech companies

The AI race between the US and China has entered a new phase, shifting from a battle over microchips to a war for top artificial intelligence (AI) talent. Tightening US immigration policies appears to be stinging Silicon Valley as top American tech giants, including Apple, Google, OpenAI and Microsoft, face a trend of brilliant Chinese scientists increasingly opting to return home, taking Washington’s ambitious AI visions back to Beijing.

For years, American tech hubs held a massive advantage: attracting the world’s brightest minds.