US Accuses China of ‘Industrial-Scale’ AI Theft Ahead of Trump’s Visit

A White House memo alleges coordinated efforts to extract U.S. AI technology, marking a sharper, security-driven phase in U.S.–China rivalry.

The World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, China, on July 6, 2023. Aly Song/Reuters

The White House has issued a sharply worded memo accusing China-linked entities of systematically stealing U.S. artificial intelligence (AI) technology on an “industrial scale” and vowing to hold them accountable.

The warning, ahead of President Donald Trump’s planned visit to China, underscores the sharpening pace of U.S.–China competition, as officials and analysts say the race for AI dominance is rapidly becoming a matter of national security—and increasingly a form of strategic confrontation.

A Rare, Direct Accusation

In the April 23 memo, issued by White House science and technology policy chief Michael Kratsios, U.S. officials said they had evidence that foreign actors—primarily based in China—were carrying out coordinated efforts to extract sensitive capabilities from leading American AI systems.