It seems China doesn’t want its AI brains wandering too far from home.
Authorities are reportedly urging top tech minds to avoid U.S. travel, fearing they might spill state secrets—or worse, get caught in geopolitical crossfire.
The reasoning? Paranoia or strategic caution, depending on who you ask.
Why China is Worried?
With AI at the center of a fierce global rivalry, Beijing is worried that traveling researchers could inadvertently leak sensitive progress or, in a worst-case scenario, be detained.
They could be used as political pawns—like when a Huawei executive was arrested in Canada at Washington’s request back in 2018.
The AI race between the U.S. and China is heating up, with Chinese startup DeepSeek claiming its AI models rival OpenAI’s at a fraction of the cost.
AI Giants Are Skipping Big Summits
No surprise then that President Xi Jinping has put security at the top of the agenda, warning officials to safeguard China’s technological edge.
For now, China’s top AI minds are playing it safe—skipping high-profile summits and reporting travel plans like school kids checking in with a teacher.
The question is: Will this bunker mentality boost China’s AI ambitions, or will keeping experts grounded hold them back?
