Chinese-origin researchers stand out in Apple’s 2024 AI scholarship programme, shining a light on mainland’s brain drain

This year’s Apple Scholars in AIML PhD fellowship shows that 11 of the 21 researchers admitted to the programme were of Chinese origin
While China has expanded its AI talent pool to meet growing domestic demand, the US remains the top destination for elite AI researchers to work

Artificial intelligence

Ben Jiangin Beijing

Published: 8:30pm, 13 Mar 2024

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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 Tuesday by Apple on its 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.

The Apple Scholars in AIML PhD fellowship is focused on machine learning, a branch of artificial intelligence concerned with developing algorithms and statistical models for computer systems to effectively perform specific tasks without using explicit instructions. Photo: Shutterstock

“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 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.

China’s AI gap with US is widening: ‘we are all very anxious’

While China has expanded its AI talent pool over the last 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 that China and the US are the leading countries of origin of the world’s 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 reached 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.

China lures scant AI talent with hefty salary premium, report finds

Within US institutions, researchers of American and Chinese origin comprised 75 per cent of the top-tier AI talent in 2022, up from 58 per cent in 2019.

The US is home to about 60 per cent of the world’s top AI institutions, according to MacroPolo. These included the likes of Google, Stanford University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Carnegie Mellon University, Microsoft Research and Meta Platforms.

After completing their PhD in the US, a vast majority of non-American AI talent stay in the US, according to MacroPolo. Chinese researchers who opt to work in the US after obtaining their PhD doubled to 8 per cent in 2022 from 4 per cent in 2019.

While the demand for AI talent is high on the mainland, there has been a lack of suitable candidates amid growing opportunities overseas. For every five new jobs in AI in China, there are only two qualified workers in the market, according to a report published late last year by Maimai, a career social network.