Blocked but booming: How people in China use American AI - NBC News

What the report says

NBC News reported that people in China are continuing to use major American artificial intelligence systems even as U.S. companies try to restrict access and policymakers intensify warnings about the risks of Chinese access to American technology. The story, by Jared Perlo and datelined Shanghai, was published July 26, 2026.

According to the limited public text available from NBC, the users include workers, students and AI enthusiasts. The report frames their activity as part of a larger tension: demand for leading U.S.-built AI tools remains strong in China despite blocks, limits or other efforts by American companies to keep those systems out of the market.

NBC’s article was presented alongside coverage from the World AI Conference in Shanghai, where visitors viewed Sugon 8000, described in the photo caption as China’s first fully domestic AI computing cluster. That context points to China’s parallel push to build homegrown AI infrastructure while some users still seek access to foreign systems.

Broader context: U.S.-China technology competition has increasingly centered on AI, advanced chips, cloud computing and national security concerns. American firms may limit access because of compliance, policy or commercial risk, while Chinese institutions and companies are investing heavily in domestic alternatives. The NBC report matters because it suggests that formal restrictions do not necessarily eliminate real-world use, complicating assumptions about technology controls and the global reach of AI platforms.