Apple AI scheme highlights Chinese brain drain
Researchers of Chinese origin comprised more than half of this year’s recipients of Apple’s annual fellowship programme on artificial intelligence (AI), shining a light on a brain drain that threatens the nation’s ambition to become a global powerhouse in that critical technology.
The 2024 Apple Scholars in AIML PhD fellowship – focused on machine learning, a branch of AI concerned with developing algorithms and statistical models for computer systems – shows that 11 of the 21 admitted to the programme were of Chinese origin, based on their names and academic background that include bachelor’s level studies on the mainland, according to a list published on Apple’s website.
At least seven of the 11 fellowship recipients completed their undergraduate studies on the mainland and pursued further studies overseas, primarily in the United States.
Each scholar will receive funding under the programme, as they pursue their PhD, internship opportunities and mentorship with an Apple researcher in their chosen field.
“We are committed to supporting the academic research community by amplifying emerging leaders in their field and their cutting-edge machine learning research,” Apple said in its announcement of this year’s fellowship recipients.
Apple Scholars in AIML are selected based on their innovative research, record as thought leaders and collaborators, and commitment to advancing their respective fields, according to the US tech giant.
The rising number of Chinese researchers admitted into that programme and other AI-related opportunities in America reflects the mainland’s continuing struggle with a brain drain, compared with a brain gain for the US.
A continued talent exodus could put China at a big disadvantage, nearly seven years since Beijing made AI a national priority to establish the country as “the world’s premier artificial intelligence innovation centre” by 2030.
While China has expanded its AI talent pool over the past few years to meet growing domestic demand, the US remains the top destination for top-tier AI researchers to work, according to Chicago-based MacroPolo’s latest AI Talent Tracker report, which compares global movement in 2022 and 2019. MacroPolo operates under the Paulson Institute, an independent think tank focused on US-China relations.
The report found China and the US were the leading countries of origin of top-tier AI researchers, which MacroPolo defined as the top 20 per cent of such elite researchers based on undergraduate degrees. China had a dominant 47 per cent share in 2022, up from 29 per cent in 2019. The US had 18 per cent in 2022, down from 20 per cent in 2019.
The US, however, is still the leading country where top-tier AI researchers work. The US share reached 42 per cent in 2022, compared with 59 per cent in 2019. China managed to grow its share to 28 per cent in 2022, up from 11 per cent in 2019.
MacroPolo data showed that China has become the leading country of origin of top-tier AI researchers working in US institutions, with a 38 per cent share in 2022 from 27 per cent in 2019. The US followed with a 37 per cent share in 2022, up from 2019’s 31 per cent.