What shift happened in U.S. AI talent in 2024?

According to Semafor, the number of AI professionals entering the U.S. in 2024 has equaled the number leaving the country—a dramatic shift from previous years.

Back in 2023, the U.S. still saw a net gain of around 400 AI specialists, based on rolling averages. But now, that influx has disappeared, signaling growing global competition for talent and changing immigration trends in tech.

The peak inflow occurred in 2016, when over 700 AI experts arrived. Numbers dropped sharply in 2020–2021, likely due to global uncertainty and policy shifts, but began climbing again in 2022—until now.

This balance of inflow and outflow may raise alarms in Silicon Valley, where access to top AI talent is crucial for innovation and leadership in the global tech race.