Sundar Pichai's Google Knocks Biden's Door For Immigration Reform To Draw Global AI Talent

Alphabet Inc.'s GOOG GOOGL Google has urged the U.S. government to update its immigration policies to attract more AI and tech talent from abroad.

The tech giant warns that the current policies could lead to a loss of valuable talent in the AI and cybersecurity sectors.

What Happened: Sundar Pichai-led Google has called for a revamp of the U.S. immigration policies, particularly the Schedule A list, which identifies occupations with insufficient American workers.

The company suggests that this list should be updated more frequently and include roles in AI and cybersecurity, The Verge reported.

Google’s Head of Government Affairs and Public Policy, Karan Bhatia, emphasized that the US faces a global shortage of AI talent, pointing out that the occupations on Schedule A have not been updated for 20 years.

The company also highlighted the lengthy process of obtaining permanent labor certification (PERM) and the need for a more efficient system to attract and retain top talent.

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"There's wide recognition that there is a global shortage of talent in AI, but the fact remains that the US is one of the harder places to bring talent from abroad, and we risk losing out on some of the most highly sought-after people in the world," Bhatia said.

The letter from Google to the Department of Labor comes at a time when the U.S. is experiencing a shortage of AI specialists. This shortage has led to fierce competition among tech companies, with some resorting to unconventional hiring practices.

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Why It Matters: The shortage of AI talent in the US has been a recurring theme in the tech industry. Despite producing a significant number of AI professionals, the US still faces a shortage of specialists in this field.

Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk, too, underscored the need for an "easier and simplified" legal immigration process for skilled individuals.

Google’s call for immigration policy reform also comes in the wake of efforts by other tech giants to attract AI talent. Meta CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, for instance, has reportedly been reaching out to AI researchers at Google’s DeepMind with personal emails and offering jobs without interviews.

Earlier, in a leaked email, Pichai expressed his anxiety about losing key talent to rivals, especially Apple. This concern has been further exacerbated by the US’s strict immigration policies, which have made it difficult for companies to attract and retain AI talent.

Price Action: At the time of writing, Alphabet Inc.'s shares were trading 1.53% up, at $165.27, according to Benzinga Pro.

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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of Benzinga Neuro and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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