McKinsey bars China practice from generative AI work amid geopolitical tensions
麦肯锡因地缘政治紧张局势禁止中国业务参与生成式 AI 工作

McKinsey has stopped its China business from undertaking consultancy work related to generative artificial intelligence amid geopolitical tensions, excluding it from one of the most potentially lucrative markets for consultants in the country.
在地缘政治紧张局势下，麦肯锡已禁止其中国业务承接与生成式人工智能相关的咨询工作，使其无法涉足这一国内咨询行业最具潜在利润的市场领域。

The US firm instructed its mainland Chinese operation to refrain from projects deploying generative AI in recent months, according to two people with knowledge of the matter. One of the people said the move was prompted by Washington’s growing scrutiny of US companies operating in sensitive sectors such as AI and quantum computing in China.
据两位知情人士透露，这家美国公司近月要求其中国大陆业务部门避免参与部署生成式 AI 的项目。其中一位人士表示，此举源于华盛顿方面对在华运营的美国企业涉足 AI 和量子计算等敏感领域的审查日益严格。

The ban extends to projects in the mainland offices of multinational clients, but does not stop McKinsey’s China business from working with companies that have more established forms of AI in their products.
该禁令同时适用于跨国客户在中国大陆办公室的项目，但麦肯锡中国业务仍可为产品中应用较成熟 AI 技术的企业提供服务。

One person with knowledge of the matter said the policy could constrain McKinsey’s ability to secure new business, given the central role generative AI now plays in corporate strategy and IT systems through products such as chatbots.
一位知情人士表示，鉴于生成式人工智能通过聊天机器人等产品在企业战略和 IT 系统中扮演的核心角色，这一政策可能会限制麦肯锡获取新业务的能力。

McKinsey has previously come under fire from US lawmakers for working with Chinese state-owned enterprises and local governments while also holding contracts with the US defence department. Bob Sternfels, McKinsey’s global managing partner, was questioned by Congress last year over the consulting firm’s alleged ties to the Chinese government.
麦肯锡此前曾因同时与中国国有企业和地方政府合作，并持有美国国防部合同而受到美国立法者的抨击。该公司全球管理合伙人鲍勃·斯特恩费尔斯去年就这家咨询公司涉嫌与中国政府的关系接受了国会质询。

Although the US government has not imposed any explicit ban on consultancies advising on AI in China, it has sought to curtail the development of China’s AI industry by tightening export controls on advanced chips and limiting American investment in Chinese tech groups.
尽管美国政府尚未明确禁止咨询公司在中国提供人工智能相关建议，但已通过收紧先进芯片出口管制和限制美国对中国科技集团的投资来遏制中国人工智能产业发展。

McKinsey’s stance is more cautious than that of some of its competitors. A consultant at a rival US firm said they avoided Chinese clients that had been blacklisted by Washington, but continued to undertake AI-related work for others using mainland-based teams.
麦肯锡的立场比部分竞争对手更为谨慎。一家美国 rival 咨询公司的顾问表示，他们会避开被华盛顿列入黑名单的中国客户，但仍通过中国大陆团队继续为其他客户开展人工智能相关业务。

McKinsey’s move comes as foreign professional services firms, including law firms, consultancies and investment banks, retrench in China amid geopolitical tensions and a slowing economy.
麦肯锡此举出台之际，外国专业服务公司（包括律师事务所、咨询公司和投资银行）正因地缘政治紧张局势和经济放缓在中国收缩业务。

Chinese companies are increasingly turning to cheaper local rivals, while many multinationals are withdrawing from China or greatly reducing their investment in the country.
中国企业正越来越多地转向收费更低的本地竞争对手，而许多跨国公司正在撤出中国或大幅减少在华投资。

McKinsey has reduced its headcount in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan to about 1,000 from 1,500 in 2023, according to figures on its website.
根据麦肯锡官网数据，该公司已将中国大陆、香港和台湾的员工人数从 2023 年的 1500 人削减至约 1000 人。

Despite the pullback, McKinsey continues to position itself globally as a leader in AI transformation.
尽管有所收缩，麦肯锡仍在全球范围内将自己定位为人工智能转型的领军者。

The firm has rolled out internal tools, including an AI chatbot, to help consultants automate tasks such as drafting proposals and building presentations. Its AI-focused unit, QuantumBlack, builds and deploys systems based on large language models.
该公司已推出包括 AI 聊天机器人在内的内部工具，协助咨询顾问自动化完成提案起草和演示文稿制作等任务。其专注于人工智能的部门 QuantumBlack 负责构建和部署基于大语言模型的系统。

Asked about the ban, McKinsey said in a statement: “Last year, we further strengthened our client service policies in China, where today our work focuses on multinational and Chinese private sector firms.”
当被问及此项禁令时，麦肯锡在声明中表示："去年我们进一步加强了在中国的客户服务政策，目前我们的业务重点服务于跨国企业和中国民营企业。"

The firm added: “We follow the most rigorous client selection policy in our profession, and we continue to evolve and strengthen our approach.”
该公司补充道："我们遵循业内最严格的客户筛选政策，并持续完善和强化这一机制。"

Additional reporting by Cheng Leng in Hong Kong
香港记者程朗补充报道