Top OpenAI AI Researcher Denied U.S. Green Card Sparks Concern
OpenAI expert behind GPT-4.5 denied U.S. green card—raising alarm over America's AI talent pipeline. Here's what it means for U.S. innovation.
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Top OpenAI AI Researcher Denied U.S. Green Card Sparks Concern Why Was an OpenAI Researcher Denied a U.S. Green Card?
Many are asking, why would the U.S. deny a green card to a top AI expert at OpenAI, especially one who contributed to GPT-4.5? Kai Chen, a Canadian artificial intelligence researcher who has spent over a decade in the U.S., was recently denied legal permanent residency—a green card. This decision has ignited intense debate across the AI industry, tech policy circles, and immigration advocacy groups. The case underscores growing challenges foreign AI professionals face, even those working on cutting-edge models like GPT-4.5, amid increasingly restrictive U.S. immigration policies. Image Credits:Bryce Durbin / TechCrunch Top AI Talent Forced Out: A Growing Problem for U.S. Innovation
Kai Chen isn’t just any researcher—his work on GPT-4.5, one of OpenAI’s flagship models, was labeled “crucial” by fellow employee Dylan Hunn. Despite 12 years of living, contributing, and advancing American AI capabilities, Chen now faces depor…
