Growing number of US tech leaders oppose ban on Chinese AI models

Meta Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg has said the United States should not ban Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) models, joining a growing number of US technology executives who have publicly called for competition through innovation rather than restrictions.  

In an interview with the Financial Times published on Tuesday, Zuckerberg said restricting Chinese AI models would not be the most effective way for the United States to maintain its leadership in artificial intelligence. Instead, he argued that the country should strengthen its competitiveness by addressing domestic challenges and accelerating innovation.  

According to the report, Zuckerberg also cautioned against policies that could limit access to open AI models, saying technological progress would be better served by open competition than by restricting foreign models. His remarks come as Washington continues to tighten controls on AI-related technologies and debate measures concerning Chinese AI developers.  

Zuckerberg's comments have drawn attention as Chinese AI companies continue to expand their global presence, with several open-weight models gaining international recognition for their performance and cost efficiency.  

He is not the only prominent US technology executive to express such views.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said in an interview with Axios last week that US companies should "absolutely" be allowed to use Chinese AI models, arguing that open models contribute to innovation, cybersecurity and broader AI adoption. Huang said competition should encourage companies to build better technologies rather than rely on restrictions.  

Huang has also described China as one of the world's largest AI markets and has repeatedly emphasized the importance of maintaining engagement with Chinese customers while complying with US regulations.  

Tesla and xAI CEO Elon Musk has likewise commented on China's AI capabilities on multiple occasions, saying Chinese companies are likely to become among the world's strongest competitors in artificial intelligence. Musk has also expressed support for open-source AI development while calling for appropriate safeguards for advanced AI systems.  

The public remarks by Zuckerberg, Huang and Musk come amid continuing discussions in the United States over AI development, open-source models and international technological competition. While their comments differ in emphasis, the executives have each argued publicly that sustained innovation will remain an important factor in the future development of artificial intelligence. 

(With input from agencies)