Ex-Harvard scientist defects to China to help build an army of AI super soldiers
A former Harvard University scientist has resurfaced in China, taking on a leading role in advanced brain research that could have military implications.
Charles Lieber, who once chaired Harvard’s chemistry department, is now the founding director of Shenzhen’s Institute for Brain Research Advanced Interfaces and Neurotechnologies, known as i-BRAIN.
Researchers tied to the Chinese Communist Party’s military programs have been exploring brain-computer interfaces, an area in which Lieber is widely recognized for his expertise. These technologies aim to enhance cognitive performance and awareness, with potential applications in developing highly advanced soldiers. Lieber’s new lab builds on decades of research he conducted at Harvard, where his work received at least 8 million dollars in funding from the US Department of Defense. In China, his research is fully supported by the government, which has identified brain-computer interface development as a national priority in its most recent five-year plan.
Lieber’s move follows legal troubles in the United States. In 2021, he was convicted of misleading federal authorities about his involvement in China’s Thousand Talents Program, a government initiative designed to attract foreign researchers. Prosecutors said he had been offered 750,000 dollars annually to establish a lab in China while still working at Harvard and failed to properly report related income. After his arrest, he was placed on administrative leave and later retired in 2023. He ultimately served two days in prison.
Although his new position in China was announced last year, it only recently drew wider attention after a Reuters investigation highlighted the development.
Now based in Shenzhen, a major technology hub, Lieber reportedly has access to resources beyond what was available to him in the United States. According to the report, his facility includes advanced chip-making tools and access to primate research labs, which he did not have at Harvard. The institute is part of a larger network of research centers funded with significant government investment.
Lieber has also been recruiting scientists to conduct experiments involving monkeys as models for human brain-computer interface systems, according to information posted by his lab. One of his former Harvard colleagues, Jung Min Lee, has joined him at i-BRAIN as a research associate professor, specializing in integrating electronics with brain tissue.
In a recent interview, Lieber suggested that limitations in the United States influenced his decision to relocate, saying he could no longer carry out this type of work there. He has described his research as beneficial on a global scale and has expressed ambitions to help establish Shenzhen as a leading center for innovation.
Court records indicate that while on supervised release, Lieber was permitted to travel to China multiple times in 2024, including trips approved for professional networking.
His case was among the most prominent prosecutions under a Department of Justice effort launched during President Trump’s administration to address concerns about Chinese espionage and intellectual property theft. That initiative was later discontinued during President Joe Biden’s administration following criticism over its approach.
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