Tsinghua University Lands Top AI Researcher as China-US Talent War Heats Up
China’s Tsinghua University has made a significant hire in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector, recruiting Alex Lamb, a prominent American researcher, to join its newly established College of AI. This move highlights the escalating competition between China and the US for top talent in the tech industry.
Lamb, currently a senior researcher at Microsoft Research’s New York lab, will take on the role of assistant professor at Tsinghua University’s College of AI starting this fall. He confirmed his move to the South China Morning Post via email. Despite his new affiliation, Lamb’s LinkedIn profile still lists Microsoft as his employer. Tsinghua University did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
This appointment is particularly noteworthy given the current geopolitical tensions in the tech sector. Washington has been ramping up measures to restrict funding and exports to China, with AI being a key area of focus in this strategic competition.
Lamb’s academic background includes a bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics and computer science from Johns Hopkins University. He pursued his doctorate in computer science at the University of Montreal under the guidance of Turing Award winner Yoshua Bengio from 2015 to 2020. His professional experience includes roles as a deep learning research scientist at Amazon and Google Brain, where he was based in Tokyo.
The recruitment of Lamb by Tsinghua University is part of China’s broader efforts to attract top American AI scholars. This move comes at a time when the US is tightening its tech curbs on China, underscoring the intense rivalry between the two nations in the AI sector.
Tsinghua University established its College of AI in April 2024, demonstrating China’s commitment to advancing its capabilities in this critical technology area. Lamb has already begun accepting applications from prospective PhD and master’s students, marking the beginning of his new role in China.
