OpenAI Researcher Crucial to GPT-4.5 Development Faces Green Card Denial, Must Leave U.S.

Kai Chen, a Canadian AI researcher who has been living in the U.S. for 12 years, recently had her green card application denied, sparking concern among colleagues at OpenAI. Noam Brown, a prominent research scientist at the company, shared the news on social media platform X, expressing deep worry over the decision. According to Brown, Chen’s denial not only forces her to leave the country but also poses a significant risk to America’s leadership in artificial intelligence (AI) by turning away top talent. Dylan Hunn, another OpenAI employee, emphasized Chen’s crucial role in the development of GPT-4.5, one of OpenAI’s advanced AI models. Despite the setback, Chen intends to continue working remotely from Vancouver, hoping the situation will be resolved soon. This incident highlights the ongoing issues foreign workers face in securing long-term residency and the potential consequences for the tech industry. The denial of green cards and challenges faced by international students and researchers in the U.S. are not isolated occurrences. Over the past few months, more than 1,700 international students, including those with extensive contributions to the AI field, have had their visa statuses questioned. The government has cited various reasons for these challenges, ranging from alleged ties to militant groups to minor legal infractions such as speeding tickets. These actions align with a broader skepticism and stricter enforcement of immigration policies under the Trump administration, particularly regarding green card applicants and those deemed potential national security threats. Tech companies like OpenAI, which rely heavily on foreign talent, have felt the impact of these policies. Shaun Ralston, an OpenAI contractor, noted that the company filed over 80 H1-B visa applications last year and has sponsored more than 100 visas since 2022. H1-B visas allow U.S. firms to hire foreign workers in specialized roles, but recent changes in the application process, such as increased requests for evidence, have raised concerns about a higher rate of denials. The contribution of immigrants to the U.S. AI industry cannot be overstated. A 2019 study by Georgetown’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology found that 66% of the 50 most promising U.S.-based AI startups had an immigrant founder. Similarly, a 2023 analysis by the National Foundation for American Policy revealed that 70% of full-time graduate students in AI-related fields are international students. Notable figures in AI, such as Ashish Vaswani, a co-creator of the transformer model that powers chatbots like ChatGPT, and Wojciech Zaremba, a co-founder of OpenAI, came to the U.S. through student visas and have made substantial contributions to the field. The current immigration environment, coupled with reduced grant funding and a general decline in support for certain sciences, has prompted many researchers to reconsider their future in the U.S. A recent Nature poll of over 1,600 scientists found that 75% are contemplating leaving for opportunities abroad. This trend could have far-reaching implications for the country's technological and scientific advancement, particularly in a competitive global landscape where countries like China and Canada are aggressively investing in AI research and development. Industry insiders and tech leaders agree that the U.S. risks losing its edge in AI if stringent immigration policies continue. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has publicly called for reforms to make it easier for high-skilled immigrants to reside and work in the U.S. Experts argue that a more welcoming approach to foreign talent is essential to maintain the momentum in AI innovation and to prevent brain drain to rival nations. The tech community is increasingly vocal about the need for policy changes, recognizing that the success of AI and other critical technologies hinges on the diverse expertise and collaborative spirit that immigrants bring to the table. OpenAI, founded in 2015, is a leading AI research laboratory dedicated to ensuring that artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity. The company has developed numerous influential AI models, including the widely popular ChatGPT, which has revolutionized natural language processing. Given the significant role of foreign researchers like Chen in the company’s projects, her green card denial underscores the fragility of the current immigration system and its potential to disrupt cutting-edge scientific endeavors.