Google asks US to update immigration rules to attract more AI talent

The US could lose valuable AI and technology talent if some of its immigration policies are not modernized, Google says in a letter sent to the Department of Labor.

Google says policies like Schedule A, a list of occupations that the government has “pre-certified” as not having enough American workers, need to be more flexible and move faster to meet demand in technologies like AI and cybersecurity. The company says the government should update Annex A to include AI and cybersecurity and do so more regularly.

“There is widespread recognition that there is a global AI talent shortage, but the fact remains that the US is one of the most difficult places to bring in talent from abroad, and we risk losing some of the most sought-after people in the world. world,” said Karan Bhatia, head of government affairs and public policy at Google. On the edge. He noted that Schedule A occupations have not been updated in 20 years.

Companies can apply for permanent residences, colloquially known as green cards, for employees. O Department of Labor requires companies to obtain a permanent labor certification (PERM) proving that there is a shortage of workers in this role. This process can take time, which is why the government “pre-certified” some jobs through Annex A.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services lists Schedule A occupations as physical therapists, professional nurses, or “immigrants of exceptional ability in the sciences or arts.” While the wait time for a green card will not be reduced, Google says Schedule A reduces processing time by about a year.

Google claims that Schedule A is “currently not serving its intended purpose,” especially as demand for new technologies like generative AI has grown, so AI and cybersecurity should be included on the list. Google says the government should also consider multiple data sources, including accepting public feedback, to regularly update Schedule A so the process is more transparent and truly reflects workforce gaps.

Since the emergence of generative AI, US companies have struggled to find engineers and researchers in the AI ​​space. Although the US produces a large pool of AI talent, there is a shortage of AI experts in the country, says Bhatia. However, strict US immigration policies have made it difficult to attract people to work at American companies to build AI platforms. He adds that Google employees often had to leave the US while they waited for the PERM process to be completed and their green cards approved.

Competition for AI talent it’s been intensewith companies often poaching engineers and researchers. The information reported that AI developers like Meta have resorted to hiring AI talent without interviews. Salaries for AI experts have skyrocketed, with OpenAI reportedly paying researchers up to $10 million. President Joe Biden’s executive order on AI requires federal agencies to help grow AI talent in the country.