00:00China is restricting overseas travel for top artificial intelligence professionals working at private firms
00:06in a sign of tighter control over strategic technology.
00:10According to a Bloomberg report, those affected include startup founders, researchers and senior executives involved in advanced AI work.
00:20The report says firms including Alibaba and DeepSig are among those impacted,
00:25with individuals added to restriction lists based on their strategic importance rather than just seniority or job title.
00:32Government agencies are also reportedly requiring some AI specialists to seek approval before travelling overseas.
00:39Beijing has long imposed similar restrictions on select state-related personnel,
00:43but the latest move extends scrutiny into the private AI sector.
00:47The move comes as China seeks to strengthen its position in the global artificial intelligence race against the United States.
00:53The move follows broader tensions over technology and talent control,
00:58including a controversy over Manus, an AI startup that originally operated in China before relocating to Singapore.
01:05Beijing ordered Meta to unwind its $2 billion acquisition of Manus in April,
01:10citing national security and data sovereignty concerns,
01:13while its two co-founders are reportedly barred for living China while they are investigated for the acquisition.
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