Chinese Authorities Advise AI Experts to Limit Travel to the United States
Chinese authorities are advising the country's top artificial intelligence (AI) entrepreneurs and researchers to limit their travel to the United States, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal. This move comes amid concerns that Chinese AI experts traveling abroad could divulge confidential information about the nation's progress in the field.
The authorities are also concerned that Chinese AI executives could be detained and used as bargaining chips in U.S.-China negotiations, similar to the detention of a Huawei executive in Canada at Washington's request during the first Trump administration.
This development comes as the U.S. and China are engaged in a global AI race. Chinese startup DeepSeek recently launched AI models that it claims rival or surpass U.S. industry leaders such as OpenAI and Alphabet Inc's Google, at significantly lower cost.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has emphasized the importance of improving China's overall security, including in the realms of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. He has urged Chinese technology companies to "show their talent" and be confident in the power of China's model and market.
Chinese executives who choose to travel are instructed to report their plans before leaving and, upon returning, to brief authorities on their activities and meetings. Some AI leaders, such as DeepSeek founder Liang Wenfeng, have declined invitations to attend international AI events due to these restrictions.
9 Comments
Answer
Another step backward into isolation, proving authoritarian governments fear sharing knowledge openly.
The Truth
The government's priority is national security and intellectual property protection; these guidelines reflect responsible leadership.
Pupsik
China is smart to avoid risks, particularly as the US increasingly sees China’s advancement as a threat.
Answer
The irony of a tech industry thriving on global connectivity while authorities clamp down on freedom of exchange is striking.
The Truth
China is justified in advising caution. History has shown incidents like Huawei’s CFO arrest can happen unpredictably.
Marishka
Why punish researchers and innovators by depriving them of potentially beneficial experiences and collaborations abroad?
Michelangelo
Restricting researchers' freedom of movement won't stop the world from speeding ahead in AI; it will just slow down China.
Raphael
If China’s AI progress is as strong as they claim, then what are they so afraid of?
Donatello
It’s wise for China to protect its national interests and research advantages, given past abuses by foreign powers.