Bessent says U.S. could sanction China over AI model 'theft'
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington could impose sanctions on China over the alleged theft of AI model technology, as Chinese open-weight models gain ground against offerings from American firms like OpenAI and Anthropic. The remarks signal a harder U.S. line on the AI rivalry with Beijing.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the administration could sanction China over what he described as the theft of American AI model technology, as Chinese open-weight models increasingly compete with offerings from firms such as OpenAI and Anthropic.
Bessent's comments come as Chinese AI developers have released a wave of open-weight models that match or approach the performance of leading U.S. systems, often at lower cost and with fewer usage restrictions, drawing growing scrutiny from Washington.
A sanctions threat would add a new front to already tense U.S.-China technology and trade relations. It remains unclear whether the administration will follow through with a formal measure or use the threat as leverage in broader negotiations.
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