The U.S.-China Brain Drain and the Future of AI Human Capital

In this episode, Alex and Ethan break from the standard format. This episode is focused on how the field of AI and software development is radically changing. In order to explore these changes, Ethan interviews Alex about what draws software engineers to particular places and companies, and how those factors may be shifting in the Trump administration and a post-coronavirus world. Alex and Ethan explore what makes a Silicon Valley, whether hubs like that will continue to exist in the future, and how the U.S. became so dominant in technology. In exploring the last question, they dive into the patterns of AI talent migration across the world, focusing on the major trend that is the brain drain from the rest of the world, especially China, into the U.S. Alex and Ethan explore what historically has caused such a trend, and how those causes are starting to decay in the present day, leading to a decline in the brain drain. They close out by exploring the differing models of AI human capital development in the U.S., China, and the EU, finishing with a consideration of what comes next for the field.

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