Source: Techmeme
The reversal signals that the global AI research community still prioritizes scientific openness over geopolitical fragmentation, but the initial policy attempt reveals how quickly export control logic is infiltrating academic gatekeeping—a preview of the real decoupling that will happen silently through funding, visa restrictions, and institutional partnerships rather than explicit bans. This matters because unlike semiconductors or biotech, AI’s competitive advantage depends on attracting top talent globally, and each friction point (visa denials, conference exclusions, funding blacklists) makes the US-China split less like Cold War division and more like irreversible brain drain.