Chinese AI firms DeepSeek and MiniMax have received regulatory approval to deploy their models overseas, according to Chinese state media.
Yuyuantantian, a social media account affiliated with CCTV, said late Thursday that both companies completed the registration process to open-source models and authorize overseas use, following the release of draft export restrictions on certain AI tools last week.
On Oct. 16, the Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Science and Technology jointly published a draft revision of its catalog of technologies subjected to export bans or restrictions. It added 40 technologies in AI, biomedicine, and photovoltaic solar systems to the list.
Yuyuantantian noted that the latest revisions have been in development since the first half of this year, with input from research institutions, industry groups, and leading companies.
A commerce ministry spokesperson said in a statement that the policy was designed to implement "necessary management" in accordance with law and to "ensure that AI technology is safe and controllable."
"The technologies proposed this time - including AI-driven autonomous malicious code generation and mutation technologies - could be used to attack sensitive systems such as national critical information infrastructure, national defense and military industry, and core government operations, or to bypass national security defense systems," the spokesperson added.
AI race
Washington has long restricted China's access to some high-end AI chips and chipmaking equipment through export controls. However, some Chinese companies have reportedly obtained chips through smuggling networks and black markets.
Chinese authorities and companies have since stepped up efforts to develop homegrown AI technologies amid an intensifying technological rivalry with the U.S.
DeepSeek, for example, launched last month its DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash model, designed for greater capability, faster inference, and higher throughput. It has reportedly secured about 100 billion yuan ($15 billion) in its latest funding round ahead of a potential initial public offering next year.
Meanwhile, MiniMax launched an updated version of its M3.1 Flash model on Monday, which it said delivers a "generational leap" in agentic tasks, coding, computer use and cybersecurity. "For agentic tasks, the model’s overall usage cost is 70% lower than its predecessor," the company added.
MiniMax's Hong Kong-listed shares surged 16.7% to close at HK$187.60 ($23.90) on Friday.