Vinod Khosla Warns: US Immigration Policies Threaten AI and Climate Tech Innovation

'Talent drives everything': Vinod Khosla's contrarian take on America's AI and climate challenges

The biggest threat to America's competitiveness in artificial intelligence and climate tech isn't the Trump administration's cuts to renewable power tax breaks or electricity shortages for data centers, says Vinod Khosla, founder of Khosla Ventures. It's immigration policy. "Talent drives everything," said the billionaire technologist. But President Trump's aggressive immigration actions are discouraging foreign-born people from coming to the U.S., including skilled workers with visas, because of the hostile environment, Khosla said. That reduces the import of highly educated innovators who can help "solve climate and other technology problems," he added. Khosla shared his take on tech and sustainability issues on Tuesday at Bloomberg Green Seattle, a three-day event focused on climate change that attracted leaders from industry, government, nonprofits, startups and environmental organizations. The backdrop to the conference was a heat wave predicted to send temperatures into the 90s in the normally more temperate city. Read one for more from Khosla's conversation with Akshat Rathi, a senior reporter with Bloomberg Green: 'Very bullish on fusion' Khosla predicted that within five years, "nobody will be talking about alternatives to fusion as a power source for the planet for the next 50 years." His fund has backed Commonwealth Fusion Systems and Realta Fusion, and he expects that one of the dozen "reasonable efforts" working to commercial power from smashing atoms together will soon demonstrate viability. "Only one needs to work to solve the planet's energy problem," he added. Embracing risk In order to solve big challenges such as developing cost-competitive, scalable, low-carbon technologies, Khosla argues for taking big chances in pursuit of breakthroughs. He cited his fund's pursuit of green steel as an example. "I don't mind the probability of failure," he said, "but I want the consequences of success to be consequential." Look to 2050 Many in the climate sector argue that the world can slow the planet's warming by aggressively deploying cleaner technologies that are available today. Khosla disagrees, calling it "a silly notion." "If you're deploying poor technologies more broadly, we have less money to deploy breakthrough technologies and less money to invest in breakthrough technology," he said, adding that the world should focus on getting to zero by 2050 and put less attention on 2030 goals. But he did acknowledge the threat of reaching tipping points before the half-century mark, which would accelerate climate change and makes it harder to slow. Untroubled by axed tax credits GOP policies are slashing tax credits from the Biden administration that supported deployment of wind and solar energy. Khosla said there are better uses for public dollars than subsidies for these sufficiently mature sectors. He added that next-generation nuclear power also doesn't need tax breaks -- and that its biggest hurdle to expansion is NIMBY-ism.

Trump policies may drive skilled workers out of US climate tech, warns billionaire Vinod Khosla - The Economic Times

Tech investor Vinod Khosla cautioned that restrictive immigration policies in the U.S. are hindering the nation's climate technology advancements. He highlighted that the reduced influx of skilled workers is impacting innovation, as other countries like Canada and Germany actively recruit talent with relocation incentives.Tech investor Vinod Khosla warned that the United States may lose its edge in climate technology as immigration restrictions under President Donald Trump's administration continue to disrupt the flow of global talent. Speaking at the Bloomberg Green conference in Seattle, Khosla said a slowdown in skilled immigration is already affecting innovation. "I think the biggest damage is the slowdown in the import of talent," he said during a live recording of the Zero podcast. "That reduces our ability to have the kinds of breakthroughs, which will allow the US to address climate change and grow the economy." Trump-era immigration policies have led to a rise in visa-related uncertainty, even for highly skilled workers in science and technology. The administration has also expanded detention efforts, adding 60 new facilities, and continues to enforce deportation campaigns that have unsettled immigrant communities. Khosla, founder of Khosla Ventures, which backs climate-focused startups, said the result is a significant outflow of talent. Countries such as Canada, Germany, and France are offering relocation support and incentives to attract affected researchers. He also pointed to growing global demand in artificial intelligence as a parallel challenge. "Talent everywhere is being repurposed into this AI domain," he said, noting that both immigration policy and the AI race are pulling skilled professionals away from climate tech. The impact is not limited to foreign nationals. Even US-born climate researchers are looking abroad as funding for clean energy projects declines and federal climate grants are reduced. "There is no shortage of American minds and hands to grow our labor force. President Trump's mass deportation campaign means higher wages and more opportunity for American workers," said White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson.