The United States’ crackdown on academic research and international students is giving China a major advantage in the global artificial intelligence race, according to Helen Toner, a former board member at OpenAI.
Toner, currently the Director of Strategy at Georgetown University’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET), said recent U.S. policies targeting science and immigration threaten to weaken the country’s position in AI development. She described the measures as a “great gift” to China.
“Foreign talent — especially from China — makes up a significant part of the U.S. scientific workforce,” Toner said. “By attacking research and limiting access for international students, the U.S. is helping China catch up.”
Toner, 33, an Australian AI expert and University of Melbourne graduate, served on the OpenAI board from 2021 until 2023, when a high-profile dispute with CEO Sam Altman led to her departure. Toner and other board members had removed Altman over concerns about his transparency, but he was later reinstated, and she was ousted.
Since then, Toner has gained influence among policymakers around the world. Time magazine named her one of the most influential people in AI in 2024. At CSET, she leads a team of 60 researchers advising governments on AI’s role in national security, including defense, biosecurity, and the future workforce.
Toner said China continues to make progress in AI despite U.S. export controls on chips. She pointed to the unexpected success of Chinese generative AI model DeepSeek as evidence of China’s growing capability.
In addition to geopolitical concerns, Toner addressed AI’s impact on the job market. She noted that while some predictions—like those from Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, who warned of up to 20% unemployment in five years—might be aggressive, the disruption has already begun.
“AI models are now very good at bite-sized tasks, the kind often given to interns or new graduates,” she said. “That kind of work is already being replaced.”
Toner said tech companies are under pressure to prove that their AI investments are paying off, but the long-term winners remain unclear. She predicted that many successful AI tools will likely be integrated into everyday apps, such as voice-to-text features in smartphone keyboards.
However, she cautioned against the speed at which companies are racing to release new AI products.
“Many of them are making decisions on the fly, balancing safety measures against usability,” she said. “They’re under intense pressure to move fast.”
One of her biggest concerns is what she called “gradual disempowerment to AI”—a slow shift of control over society to AI systems without fully realizing the consequences until it’s too late.
Despite the risks, Toner said AI has great potential in fields like scientific research, drug discovery, and self-driving technology. She highlighted companies like Waymo for their role in potentially saving lives.
“With cars, the alternative is thousands of deaths per year,” she said. “If AI can reduce that, it’s an incredible achievement.”
On a lighter note, Toner acknowledged a film in development about her time at OpenAI. Friends have been sending her suggestions on who should play her.
“They’re all incredibly beautiful actresses,” she joked. “I’ll take any of them.”
