The United States is obsessed with winning the AI race against China. Crazy investments, blockages to critical technology, nuclear reactors to power the data centers… In the midst of these titanic efforts, the Trump administration decided that it was a good idea to do massive cuts to academic research.
Shot in the foot. In an interview with Financial TimesEric Horvitz has harshly criticized the cuts promoted by Trump. Microsoft’s chief scientist argues that this decision will cause talent to emigrate to other countries, such as China, and make them take the lead in science and, above all, in AI. “Personally, I find it difficult to understand the logic of trying to compete with other countries while applying these cuts,” says Horvitz.
Cuts. 2025 has been a complicated year for research and science in the United States. Thousands of researchers have been laid off, eliminated science subsidies worth 1 billion, American universities They have eliminated more than 9,000 jobs, They have dismantled the Department of EducationHE They have cut billions in health programsspace research and of course everything related to climate change or diversity policies.
Meanwhile in China… China is clear that, to compete in the technological war, it needs engineers and He has been investing in them for more than forty years. Currently it is the country that produces the most STEM graduatesis driving initiatives to train high-ranking engineers and has the university that is publishing the most papers on AI.
There is more. In your 15th five-year plan covering 2026 to 2030China makes strengthening the educational system a priority and has another plan underway to become leader in education by 2035.
Leadership at stake. Horvitz It defends the model that the United States began after World War II, with the creation of the National Science Foundation, without which the United States would be “decades behind” in the current technological war. He also highlights that there are key advances to reach modern AI, such as reinforcement learningwhich were achieved thanks to public funds.
Exodus of talent. In the 80s there was an exodus of Chinese talent to the United States, but currently the situation has turned around. There are more and more Chinese academics returning to their country and there is also American engineers going to China motivated by a talent recruitment campaign. Europe is also being a destination for many researchers who, pushed by cuts, seek opportunities through large EU financing programs.
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