Tech industry warns US immigration policy hurts American competitiveness in AI

A trade group representing some of the world's largest technology companies is urging governments to rethink their immigration policies or risk falling behind in artificial intelligence and machine learning. The issue is front-of-mind in the Seattle region where companies like Microsoft, Amazon, the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence (AI2), and others are working to develop a global AI hub. The Partnership on AI published a new paper asking policymakers to create a framework for AI experts, students, and technologists to travel more freely between countries. The nonprofit represents the companies above and nearly 100 other tech firms and research institutions. Though the paper was directed at lawmakers generally, President Donald Trump's immigration agenda is an undercurrent throughout.