China weighs restricting overseas access to advanced AI models

5 min read

Chinese regulators have held meetings with major tech firms including Alibaba, ByteDance and start-up Z.ai to discuss potential limits on overseas access to the country’s most advanced AI models, including unreleased versions. Officials from the Ministry of Commerce and the National Development and Reform Commission attended and considered making theft of proprietary AI technology a national security offence and restricting who can fund domestic AI start-ups. The talks follow other 2026 measures such as investigations into start-ups that moved abroad and tighter rules on overseas deals, and could raise costs and alter global AI competition.

China is considering limits on overseas access to advanced AI models