As Washington tightens down on Beijing’s access to cutting-edge technology, reports surface that Microsoft has asked personnel working in China’s cloud computing and artificial intelligence units to think about leaving the country.
TakeAway Points:
- Regarding 700 to 800 individuals based in China who work in machine learning and other cloud computing-related fields, migration has been offered, according to sources who spoke with the Wall Street Journal.
- The action is a result of US efforts to stop China from creating advanced AI technology that might be exploited for military objectives.
- The United States is concerned that AI models, which consume enormous quantities of data to produce content, can be used to launch cyberattacks or produce biological weapons.
Staff in Cloud Computing and AI to leave the Country
Microsoft has reportedly asked China-based cloud computing and artificial intelligence operations employees to consider relocating out of the country, as Washington cracks down on Beijing’s access to advanced technology.
An anonymous source said that the employees, who were primarily Chinese engineers, had been given the option to relocate to the United States, Ireland, Australia, or New Zealand.
Approximately 700 to 800 individuals active in machine learning and other cloud computing-related fields received the offer from Microsoft, according to a source who spoke with WSJ.
Microsoft said that it had “shared an optional internal transfer opportunity with a subset of workers” in a statement, but it did not specify how many people were impacted or what their affiliation was.
“We remain committed to the region and will continue to operate in this and other markets where we have a presence,” the spokesperson said, adding that the potential transfers would not impact operations.
According to the report, Microsoft’s research and development business for Asia-Pacific employs about 7,000 engineers, the majority of whom are headquartered in China.
U.S. Impose Limitations on China’s AI Technology Advancement
The action is a result of US efforts to stop China from creating advanced AI technology that might be exploited for military objectives. The United States has imposed rounds of limitations on China over the last two years, restricting its ability to purchase cutting-edge chips and chip-making machinery that can be used to train artificial intelligence models.
According to recent reports, the Biden administration is now looking to impose new restrictions on the export of sophisticated AI models, including the huge language model that underpins Microsoft-backed ChatGPT.
However, there is now little regulatory control barring corporations like Microsoft, one of the U.S.’s leading cloud-computing and AI players, from selling or offering AI model services to foreign groups.
AI Threat Concerns
According to reports, the United States is concerned that AI models, which consume enormous quantities of data to produce content, can be used to launch cyberattacks or produce biological weapons.
Microsoft published a study earlier this year claiming that state-sponsored hackers from Iran, China, and Russia had been honing their craft and bolstering their hacking operations with OpenAI tools. Even though stringent regulations drove other Western tech companies out of China, Microsoft has established a strong presence there for over thirty years. The corporation claims that its largest research and development facility outside of the United States is located in China.
