China tightens travel rules for private AI professionals

Chinese authorities have expanded overseas travel restrictions to include top artificial intelligence professionals working at private technology firms, according to people familiar with the matter. The measures, which require affected individuals to obtain official approval before traveling abroad, are being applied to a mix of startup founders, researchers, and executives deemed strategically important to the country's AI sector.

The restrictions represent an extension of long-standing controls typically applied to personnel in state-owned enterprises and sensitive scientific fields to the private technology industry. While it is unclear how many individuals or what specific roles across the industry are affected, the policy highlights the government's view of elite AI engineers as strategic national assets. Companies reportedly involved include Alibaba Group Holding and the AI lab DeepSeek.

This expansion follows earlier, more limited measures. Earlier this year, authorities began warning top AI entrepreneurs against travel to the United States, citing concerns over potential leaks of sensitive technical information or the risk of executives being detained abroad. The recent...