China Surges Ahead of US in Race for Top AI Talent, Study Finds

China has overtaken the United States in attracting elite artificial intelligence talent, according to a study by Carnegie China, a branch of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. In 2025, China hired 41% of the world's leading AI researchers, while US companies secured 34%. This marks a substantial reversal from 2022, when the US attracted 46% of top researchers compared to China's 27%.

The study also highlighted a shift in the origin of AI talent. In 2025, 57% of elite AI researchers earned their undergraduate degrees in China, a significant increase from 11% in 2022. Conversely, only 13% of elite AI researchers received their bachelor's degrees in the US in 2025, down from a higher figure in 2022.

Elite AI researchers were defined in the study as academics and engineers whose papers were accepted by the prestigious NeurIPS conference, a methodology consistent with that used by the think tank Macro Polo. The report suggests that major Chinese AI companies, such as DeepSeek and MoonShotAI, are now offering salaries comparable to those in Silicon Valley, contributing to this trend.

Industry observers have urged the US to reinforce its historical advantage in drawing global talent. Lior Prosor, partner at AI venture fund Deep33, stated that "China should not be underestimated. It is producing an extraordinary share of the world's AI researchers and PhDs, and it is a formidable, extremely well-financed competitor." He added, "But America has an advantage China has not been able to replicate: the ability to attract the best talent domestically and from everywhere else in the world and put it to work."

Prosor emphasized that "That combination of global talent, deep private capital and a highly competitive entrepreneurial environment remains the core of America's AI advantage. That is an enormous strategic asset, and it is exactly what America should be heavily doubling down on."