The US has blacklisted the Chinese startup Zhipu as part of tightened trade restrictions in the final days of Joe Biden's administration.
New US Restrictions
Washington has included startup Zhipu on the trade restrictions blacklist, banning US suppliers from selling to the company without a license. This action coincides with new rules aimed at limiting the export of advanced chips to China.
Chinese Startup's Response
Zhipu, a developer of large language models, opposed the US decision, stating that the decision to add the company to the blacklist 'lacked factual basis'. A company representative also said this would not have a substantial impact on the business.
Impact on Chinese Companies
Other Chinese firms have also been targeted by recent US sanctions, such as Tencent and chip designer Sophgo. Many companies and industry groups have expressed opposition to the restrictions, stating that they might undermine US leadership and competitiveness in the chip and AI sectors.
The US restrictions aim to slow down Chinese technological advancement in AI, sparking debates over the long-term consequences for both nations.