Chinese authorities will now require government approval for top artificial intelligence professionals in private companies to travel abroad, Bloomberg reported Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter.
The curbs signal increasing Chinese intervention to safeguard its technology as it competes with the U.S. and to prevent brain drain, the report said.
Government agencies have imposed restrictions on people involved in advanced AI work, as they are considered strategically important to the country, the report said.
Those told they will be subject to travel restrictions span from startup founders and researchers to executives, Bloomberg said, citing the people.
Chinese restrictions on overseas travel for its top talent are not new. The country has, for years, controlled travel for top college researchers, nuclear scientists, and executives at state-owned firms, the report said.
(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)