Chinese government agencies are expanding overseas travel restrictions to include top AI professionals at private firms like Alibaba and DeepSeek.
The move aims to safeguard technological assets and prevent talent drain during the ongoing AI rivalry with the United States.
Beijing now requires key AI personnel to obtain formal approval for foreign trips, escalating previous informal warnings.
Authorities previously advised AI leaders to avoid U.S. travel to prevent potential executive detentions.
These measures treat AI experts as strategic national assets to keep critical intellectual property and expertise within China.