AI Espionage Allegations Strain US-China Relations

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.

(With inputs from agencies.)