China spent years accused of stealing American AI. Now it wants to protect its own.

Chinese authorities have held meetings with top tech firms over the past month ​about potentially restricting overseas access to China's most advanced AI models, including those yet to be released, three people familiar with the discussions said.

Tesla is making the Model Y L, a three-row version of its best-selling SUV, available in the US after strong sales in China.

Silicon Valley engineers recently flocked to new technology from a Chinese company, Z.ai, that is almost as good as its American competitors but much cheaper.

China appears intent on pulling a silicon curtain around its own AI technology — including its open-source models — just as Washington has been ramping up restrictions on foreign access to top-shelf AI.