US sanctions five Chinese entities tied to alleged Google AI secrets

On Oct. 19 the State Department designated five entities under the Protecting American Intellectual Property Act in connection with theft of U.S. trade secrets. The fact sheet says Shanghai Zhisuan, founded by former Google engineer Linwei Ding, was pitched as able to replicate Google's superintelligence infrastructure, and that MiraclePlus gave it seed capital for an ownership stake. OFAC added Zhisuan, MiraclePlus, and three related funds to its Non-SDN Menu-Based Sanctions List, with property blocking and limits on large U.S. loans and on U.S. investment in their equity or debt. General License 2 allows a wind-down through 12:01 a.m. EST on Jan. 19, 2027 for MiraclePlus and the three funds. It does not name Zhisuan.