Chinese AI startup DeepSeek founder Liang Wenfeng declined an invitation to attend an AI summit in Paris in February, according to the report. Another founder of a major Chinese AI startup canceled a planned U.S. trip last year following instructions from Beijing, the Journal added.

Beijing increasingly views cutting-edge technology through a national-interest lens, putting executives on a tighter leash.

China has reportedly instructed its top artificial intelligence (AI) entrepreneurs and researchers to avoid traveling to the United States due to concerns over national security, according to the Wall Street