US officials are considering new export restrictions on China in the fields of quantum computing and AI software, Bloomberg reported last week, citing people familiar with the matter. Discussions are still at an early stage, according to the unnamed source, and there are no further details on what shape any potential bans might take. Major Chinese tech firms including Baidu and Alibaba have invested in quantum computing and released related products in recent years, interests which could take a direct hit if the US introduces restrictions. In terms of AI, major machine learning frameworks such as Google’s TensorFlow and PyTorch are open-source and it is not immediately clear how the US would be able to place effective controls on them, but it is another indication of the Biden administration’s intention to attempt to limit China’s access to advanced computing technologies. [Bloomberg]