I am very worried about geopolitical situation developing recently. India leaning towards China could be just end to USA's position as world's superpower. It will not only impact geo-politics I am worried about scientific and technological leadership USA has been enjoying. Unfortunately American public severely underestimate impact of immigrant in the scientific and technological field. Most of the recent strides in AI, batteries and quantum computing have been led by Chinese and Indian immigrants. Loosing that channel could reverse American leadership. Technical center's will slowly move towards Asia in large numbers.

Really ?
AI and Quantum Computing have, so far, been worthless, and may never amount to much.
Although Chinese strides in Fusion Reactor research is commendable.

But when it comes to actual, useful research, like developing a successful mRNA vaccine in less than a year, as the Americans did, how did China and India make out ?

23 minutes ago, Mahi_sayli said:

I am very worried about geopolitical situation developing recently. India leaning towards China could be just end to USA's position as world's superpower

I think the USA has abdicated that role in spirit and are on the way to losing it economically and scientifically. It will be tough to regain that position.

2 minutes ago, MigL said:

developing a successful mRNA vaccine in less than a year, as the Americans did

We’re taking great strides in making sure it never happens again, or at least for a generation.

14 minutes ago, swansont said:

We’re taking great strides in making sure it never happens again, or at least for a generation.

Americans, or about half of them, are their own worst enemies.

1 hour ago, swansont said:

I think the USA has abdicated that role in spirit and are on the way to losing it economically and scientifically. It will be tough to regain that position.

We’re taking great strides in making sure it never happens again, or at least for a generation.

it's still not late. USA still is in the lead in many field. People don't realize that loosing scientific leads means dollar looses it's position of world's reserve currency. At the point, people will be directly impacted negatively and will loose purchasing power enormously. American public needs to be aware of that.

I think it's safe to say that many Americans have little or no knowledge of the workings of global reserve currencies.

7 hours ago, Mahi_sayli said:

it's still not late. USA still is in the lead in many field. People don't realize that loosing scientific leads means dollar looses it's position of world's reserve currency. At the point, people will be directly impacted negatively and will loose purchasing power enormously. American public needs to be aware of that.

What’s happened in the last six months won’t be undone very soon, and it will take a long time to reverse the damage. Science isn’t something you can stop and then pick up where you left off. Damaged trust is not something that is rebuilt quickly. And countries are finding they don’t need the US as much as most thought.

22 hours ago, TheVat said:

I think it's safe to say that many Americans have little or no knowledge of the workings of global reserve currencies.

That's going to hurt us. Once we loose our ability to print money without dollar devaluation, we will need to balance the trade and budgets. That is not possible for USA. I am not sure people understand what that would be like.

On 9/3/2025 at 12:21 PM, MigL said:

Really ?
AI and Quantum Computing have, so far, been worthless, and may never amount to much.
Although Chinese strides in Fusion Reactor research is commendable.

But when it comes to actual, useful research, like developing a successful mRNA vaccine in less than a year, as the Americans did, how did China and India make out ?

I wouldn't say AI is worthless at all. Besides AI and Quantum Computing will be game changer if we succeed.

We are not big fans of the current state of AI on this forum.
It is fine for people who want regurgitated, and often wrong, knowledge, albeit drawn from vast sources, but in terms of 'learning', AI isn't even at the level of a month old baby, or a dog for that matter.

Quantum computing is in the same boat as Fusion reactors.
For 40 years a breakthrough has been just around the corner.
Except we have a working example of a Fusion reactor 93 000 000 miles away, so we know it works.
Not so sure about Quantum computing.

1 hour ago, Mahi_sayli said:

Besides AI and Quantum Computing will be game changer if we succeed.

Changing games ?
mRNA research changed ( and saved ) lives.

2 hours ago, MigL said:

Changing games ?
mRNA research changed ( and saved ) lives.

And the US is doing its best to un-change the probably single biggest element of public health (i.e. vaccines in general, not only mRNA).

2 hours ago, MigL said:

It is fine for people who want regurgitated, and often wrong, knowledge, albeit drawn from vast sources, but in terms of 'learning', AI isn't even at the level of a month old baby, or a dog for that matter.

I think a big change in the workforce will be coming and it is quite important to figure out where we go from there. For example, one issue is that AI tools are already kinda of apt in taking over bullshit office work. Essentially rote work with limited judgement calls or other need for human input. This makes it very attractive to cut down entry level jobs in favor of AI, or perhaps rather fewer people who can do the same work using AI tools. However, in many areas such drudgery (e.g. literature search) can be actually quite important to train folks and entry level positions are where they acquire skills they need to reach the higher level positions. Getting rid of those therefore eliminates "classic" training positions and I am not really seeing that folks are creating alternatives to that.

It is a bit what we see in a different context in university- students use it to cut down the boring work of reading and writing and as a consequence do not properly learn to read and write, limiting their higher-level prospects. So in some ways it is already changing the game, but not in an universally great way.