China Seeks to Turn the Tide in AI Talent Race

China is seeking to attract technology talent while encouraging its younger generation to build careers at home, as it tries to challenge the United States’ success in drawing skilled workers.

Over recent years, the United States has attracted technology professionals by easing the procedures needed to bring them into the country. That approach has helped make access to talent a key part of the competition over artificial intelligence.

China is now trying to follow a similar path. Its challenge is twofold: bringing in skilled people from abroad and persuading young talent already in the country to stay.

Those goals place recruitment and retention at the centre of China’s effort. Attracting professionals is one task; giving the next generation reasons to pursue their ambitions at home is another.

Whether China can reverse the balance remains an open question. Its push underscores how the AI race is also a contest for the people who will develop the technology.