China and U.S. Both Weigh Limits on Foreign Access to Advanced AI Models

Chinese authorities held meetings with top technology companies over the past month to discuss potential restrictions on overseas access to the country’s most advanced artificial intelligence models, including those still under development, Rappler reported.

The sessions were led by the Ministry of Commerce, with officials from the National Development and Reform Commission also present. ai.

Participants examined limits on both closed-source and open-weight versions of the models. Officials raised the possibility of classifying any leak or theft of proprietary AI technology as an offense under national security law. They also considered new measures to restrict who may fund domestic AI startups.

The scope of any restrictions remains under discussion and could apply only to future models. It is not clear when or whether the measures would take effect. China’s commerce ministry and the National Development and Reform Commission did not respond to requests for comment, nor did the three companies.

The discussions follow earlier steps by Beijing to retain control of homegrown AI technology. In April the state planner ordered Meta to unwind its $2 billion acquisition of Chinese-founded startup Manus. In early June authorities issued new rules tightening oversight of overseas deals involving Chinese investors, technology, data and national security.

In parallel, the United States in June barred foreign nationals from accessing Anthropic’s most advanced Fable and Mythos models. Anthropic later disabled the models globally because nationality could not be verified in real time. Export controls on Fable were later lifted after new safeguards were added, while Mythos remains available only to certain trusted U.S.