The US commerce department has asked the so-called Electronic Design Automation Group, which includes Cadence, Synopsys and Siemens EDA, to stop supplying technology to China, according to several people familiar with the matter. The directive has been sent to the companies by letter from the Bureau of Industry and Security, the commerce department agency that oversees export controls, according to people familiar with the matter. It is unclear whether every US EDA company has received the letter. The move marks a significant new move by the US government to curb China's ability to develop cutting-edge artificial intelligence chips. (Jin Ten)