In the heated global artificial intelligence race, American technological advancement continues to depend significantly on Chinese-born researchers, according to recent studies that highlight an ironic dependency despite political tensions between the two superpowers.
The Chinese Backbone of American AI
When Mark Zuckerberg announced Meta's ambitious Superintelligence Lab in June 2025, aiming to develop machines surpassing human brain capabilities, he introduced 11 artificial intelligence researchers joining this groundbreaking initiative. A revealing memo examined by The New York Times showed that all eleven were immigrants educated outside the United States, with seven originating from China.
This pattern emerges despite months of American executives, government officials, and commentators portraying China as an adversary in the AI competition. The reality demonstrates that much of the pioneering research emerging from American institutions is fundamentally driven by Chinese intellectual capital.
Research Reveals Sustained Dependency
Two comprehensive studies provide concrete evidence of this longstanding trend. Research from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace confirms that Chinese-born and educated researchers have consistently played crucial roles within leading US artificial intelligence laboratories. They continue to propel significant AI advancements in both industry and academia, despite the Trump administration's immigration restrictions and growing anti-China sentiment within Silicon Valley.
The 2020 Paulson Institute study, which promotes constructive US-China relations, estimated that Chinese AI researchers constituted nearly one-third of the world's elite AI talent, with most working for American corporations and universities.
The recent Carnegie follow-up reveals remarkable continuity: 87 out of 100 top-tier Chinese researchers who were affiliated with US universities or companies in 2019—three years before ChatGPT ignited the global AI boom—continue their research within American institutions.
"The US AI industry is the biggest beneficiary of Chinese talent," stated Matt Sheehan, an analyst involved in both studies. "It gets so many top-tier researchers from China who come to work in the US, study in the US and, as this study shows, stay in the US, despite all the tensions and obstacles thrown at them in recent years."
Collaboration Amidst Competition
Cross-border scientific cooperation remains surprisingly robust. A separate investigation by alphaXiv, a company tracking AI research trends, indicates that since 2018, joint research between America and China occurs more frequently than between any other two nations.
This collaboration extends across major tech corporations. Since 2018, industry giants including Apple, Google, Intel, and Salesforce have partnered with Chinese organizations on widely-cited research papers. Microsoft, maintaining longstanding research facilities in China, leads this trend with collaborative credit on at least 92 significant papers.
Meta's AI division exemplifies this cultural integration. New recruits often hear jokingly that proficiency in two languages is essential: Hack, Meta's proprietary programming language, and Mandarin, according to three individuals familiar with the company's AI team culture.
The company's reliance on international talent is further demonstrated by immigration data: Meta secured approximately 6,300 H1-B visas in the past year, ranking second only to Amazon according to US Citizenship and Immigration Services records.
Security Concerns Versus Innovation Needs
Silicon Valley's apprehension about Chinese nationals potentially compromising US corporate secrets for the Chinese government persists, with some justification. In early 2023, a security breach at OpenAI resulted in hackers accessing internal messaging systems and stealing details about AI technology designs.
However, analysts like Sheehan contend that espionage risks are substantially outweighed by the benefits of engaging Chinese talent. They express concern that expanded immigration restrictions could severely damage American research capabilities.
"This is seen as a real threat to US companies' edge in AI," cautioned Helen Toner, interim executive director at Georgetown University's Center for Security and Emerging Technology. She emphasized that without the continuous influx of talented Chinese researchers, Silicon Valley companies would likely fall behind in the global competition—particularly to China itself.
The working environment has undoubtedly become more challenging for Chinese researchers, who report increased visa difficulties and apprehension about international travel due to reentry concerns. The Carnegie study notes that some prominent Chinese researchers have returned to Chinese institutions after US appointments.
Tensions have surfaced within American companies as well. Last month, Chinese researcher Yao Shunyu publicly disclosed his departure from San Francisco startup Anthropic to Google, citing company executives publicly identifying China as a serious security threat. "I strongly disagree with the anti-China statements," Shunyu wrote. "I believe most people at Anthropic will disagree with such a statement, yet I don't think there is a way for me to stay."
As the AI race intensifies, the United States faces a complex balancing act: maintaining technological security while preserving the international collaboration that has historically fueled its innovation ecosystem. The continued contribution of Chinese researchers to American AI advancement underscores the deeply interconnected nature of global technological progress, even amidst geopolitical rivalry.
