Is the strength of Chinese AI models all thanks to U.S. export controls? Perplexity CEO: Export controls are the sole reason for the current 12-month tech gap between open-source models and cutting-edge closed-source models. He confirmed that Anthropic had engaged in intense lobbying with decision-makers on this matter. At the same time, hardware export restrictions are pushing Chinese AI teams to seek technical optimizations at the physical layer level. Moreover, China holds comprehensive infrastructure advantages in data center construction, including speed, power supply, administrative approvals, labor costs, and specialized expertise.