The Chinese government has implemented new restrictions on the overseas travel of top artificial intelligence (AI) specialists working in private companies, including major players like Alibaba Group Holding and DeepSeek. According to sources cited by Bloomberg News, employees involved in strategically important AI projects are now required to obtain official permission before leaving the country.
This decision reflects the government's intent to extend its oversight over professionals engaged in the development of advanced technologies considered critical to national interests. Such measures necessitate that travel plans be coordinated with designated authorities. Sources emphasize that discussions around this topic are being held anonymously due to its sensitive nature.
While these new restrictions may seem unprecedented, they follow prior recommendations made by Chinese authorities in March 2025, urging AI company executives to avoid trips to the United States. Concerns over data leaks, technology theft, and talent poaching were cited as key reasons for these advisories.
These actions align with a broader strategy by Beijing to protect its domestic AI industry at both software and hardware levels, while simultaneously reducing reliance on foreign technologies. Concurrently, China is enhancing the development of its internal market for AI accelerators.
Research firm IDC reports that Chinese chip manufacturers currently hold approximately 41% of the domestic accelerator market for AI, indicating a significant strengthening of the local industry in this critical segment of computing platforms.
Additionally, the Chinese government has blocked attempts by Meta to acquire the startup Manus AI, which specializes in agent-based systems. This move is viewed as part of a policy to retain key technologies within the country amidst global competition with the United States.
These current measures underscore the ongoing technological rivalry between China and the U.S. in the field of artificial intelligence, where control over talent, computing power, and corporate transactions is becoming just as crucial as the algorithms themselves. This shift may compel competitors to reassess their strategies and operations in the AI landscape, as China seeks to fortify its position in this vital sector.
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