AI Espionage Allegations Strain US-China Relations

A White House memo accuses China of stealing US AI labs' intellectual property on a large scale, heightening tension amid upcoming US-China talks. The memo outlines industrial campaigns exploiting American AI models, which China denies. These allegations could impact US decisions on AI technology sales to China.

The White House has officially accused China of stealing intellectual property from US artificial intelligence labs at an industrial scale, a revelation that could strain relations ahead of a significant summit between the two nations.

Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, detailed the accusations in a memo shared on social media and initially cited by the Financial Times. It alleges that foreign entities, predominantly based in China, use sophisticated methods to extract sensitive information from advanced AI systems.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington dismissed these accusations as unfounded, asserting its respect for intellectual property rights. The memo, shared as President Donald Trump prepares to visit President Xi Jinping in Beijing, threatens to reignite the technology war between the two powers. It further questions whether Nvidia's AI chips will reach China, as previously planned.