DeepSeek, MiniMax win Beijing nod for global AI use

Chinese AI developers DeepSeek and MiniMax have won state approval for global use of their AI models. The news came in a Thursday post from a social media account affiliated with state broadcaster CCTV, Reuters reported. It is the first sign of how Beijing plans to apply its new AI export rules. The post said much of China's AI will stay free to export, according to The Business Times, which carried Bloomberg's report.reuters.com+1

Registration completed

The account, Yuyuan Tantian, published the post late on October 22. "Since the policy was announced, leading companies DeepSeek and MiniMax have successfully completed the registration process, as well as the procedures for open-sourcing and authorising overseas use," the post said. It added that "AI companies can continue their commercialisation efforts as usual". The South China Morning Post reported that the two companies went ahead with open-source releases and overseas licensing once their registrations were done. In a second post on Friday, the account said overseas internet users had urged other Chinese open-source large language models to follow.businesstimes.com.sg+2

The post said the export catalogue aims to "define boundaries rather than simply restrict the export of AI technology." It also said that offering API access, web apps or software-as-a-service features will not face export restrictions, even when restricted models power them. The account compared this with Washington's use of targeted export bans and wrote, "China, however, is not following this path".businesstimes.com.sg

The October 16 draft

China's commerce and science ministries released the draft on October 16. It adds 40 technologies to the country's list of technologies banned or restricted from export, and 23 of them are AI-related. Public comments are open until November 15. Restrictions would cover the core technology of models trained on "important data" that have at least 2 trillion parameters, or that rank among the world's top 10 on measures such as performance and safety. Examples include Kimi K3 and Alibaba Group Holding's ↘ 2.14% Qwen3.8-Max.straitstimes.com+1

Open-source technology and research that is already public would be exempt, and open-source exports would get streamlined steps such as automatic licensing. Deploying a covered model on servers abroad would count as an export. A temporary rule requiring registration before export took effect the same day. It covers deals already under way, including transfers of intellectual property and overseas licensing.technode.global+1

Strategic stakes

Analysts have warned that the rules could limit overseas access to China's most advanced models. That could slow the global uptake of Chinese open-source AI, which has spread partly because it costs less. Beijing has already shown it wants control over strategic technology: it forced Meta Platforms ↘ 0.96% to unwind its acquisition of Manus, an AI agent startup with Chinese roots.businesstimes.com.sg