As his graduation from a top Chinese university approached earlier this year, computer scientist Lu Yi faced a tough choice. Should he move to the United States to pursue a PhD in artificial intelligence, as Chinese high-fliers have so often done before? Or should he stay in China?
The United States pays AI scientists higher salaries, has the best hardware and hosts the world’s most advanced AI laboratories. But “the gap is getting closer and closer”, says Lu, whose name has been changed because he was concerned about speaking publicly on what he saw as a sensitive issue.
AI research in China is advancing rapidly. Many more AI researchers emerge from Chinese universities than from US institutions, and graduates are increasingly opting to stay put, or to return to China after spending time in the United States. China-based researchers dominate global AI-related publications, and firms such as DeepSeek and Moonshot AI make AI models with capabilities not far off those of their US rivals — and at a fraction of the price.
At the same time, the United States has become a less appealing destination for foreign researchers, with an increasingly restrictive visa system; Lu has seen friends’ applications rejected or delayed. “It’s a worry,” he says. Ultimately, Lu decided to stay in China.
