Moonshot AI Breakthrough: Indian-Origin Founder Slams US Visa Policies Over Kimi K3

Moonshot AI, the Chinese startup led by CEO Yang Zhilin, has unveiled Kimi K3, an open-weight AI model that matches the performance of leading Western systems. The release has ignited a fierce discussion about global talent flows, with Indian-origin tech entrepreneur Ankit Gupta publicly condemning the United States for what he called its 'moronic visa policy.'

Gupta, who has built companies in the US, argued that restrictive immigration rules are pushing top engineers and researchers to countries like China, where they can contribute to cutting-edge projects. He pointed to Moonshot AI's success as evidence that America's loss is China's gain, saying the US is 'handing over' its competitive edge in AI.

The Kimi K3 model, which is available for developers to download and modify, has been praised for its advanced reasoning and coding capabilities. Industry observers note that open-weight models like this could accelerate innovation by allowing researchers worldwide to build on the technology.

Moonshot AI, founded in 2023, has quickly become a major player in China's AI sector. The company's rapid rise, coupled with Gupta's remarks, has renewed calls in Washington to reform the H-1B visa program and make it easier for foreign talent to stay and work in the US.

Gupta's criticism comes amid a broader debate over US competitiveness in AI, with some lawmakers and tech leaders warning that restrictive policies could cede leadership to China. Moonshot AI's breakthrough, and the reaction it has provoked, underscores the high stakes of the global race for AI dominance.