China could restrict foreign access to its most advanced AI models

China is considering restricting foreign access to its most advanced AI models, according to Reuters.

Over the past month, China’s Ministry of Commerce has held meetings with representatives from Alibaba, ByteDance, and Z.ai to discuss protecting AI technologies that Beijing increasingly views as strategic national assets.

Among the measures under consideration are restrictions on access to the country’s most powerful open- and closed-source models. Officials are also reportedly discussing tougher penalties for technology theft, potentially including cases prosecuted under national security laws.

China could also introduce restrictions on foreign investment in domestic AI startups. However, sources said any new rules would apply only to future technologies.

No final decision has been made, and there is currently no clear timeline for when the restrictions could be introduced. If implemented, the measures could have significant consequences for the global AI market.

Over the past year, Chinese AI products such as DeepSeek have gained popularity thanks to their strong performance and relatively low costs. Restricting access to them could significantly increase AI spending for companies outside China.