The AI ​​braindrain threatens the "new generation of scientists"

Universities face a serious shortage of lecturers in artificial intelligence while doctors opt for jobs outside academia or go abroad, reported Financieele Dagblad Monday.

At present, about 90% of Amnesty International graduates are already finding work outside of academia and there is concern that a recruitment campaign conducted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States no longer attracts the remaining 10%.

"The MIT will try to recruit our best graduates," said Maarten de Rijke, director of the new Dutch national institute for artificial intelligence, ICAI. "If that happens, no one will have to teach a new generation of scientists."

Artificial intelligence is a very popular choice among students, but, writes the FD, there are too few people to teach them. The combined universities of Amsterdam, for example, have only 30 speakers. Some 700 students wanted to do an MA in Amsterdam this year, but there were only 200 places.

One way to solve the problem would be to increase university salaries, De Rijke explained. University professors earn half of those from an AI specialist in the industry, while in the US, salaries can be five times higher.

But, says De Rijke, it is not simply better wages that will persuade people to stay in universities. An environment that offers cooperation with talented colleagues, access to the best data and career opportunities is also a major attraction. However, he warned, the lack of affordable housing is a major hurdle.

Earlier this year, European scientists warned that Europe was lagging behind in the global race for AI, with China and the United States being the main investors, FD said.