Chinese AI model Kimi K3 halts new signups amid skyrocketing demand

Moonshot AI paused new signups for Kimi K3 after demand surged so quickly that its available compute was exhausted within 48 hours.

Existing users can still access the model, and the company says capacity will be expanded gradually in batches.

The move underscores how fast Chinese AI models are drawing global interest, while limited compute and server capacity can slow deployment.

It also adds pressure in the intensifying US-China AI race, alongside rivals such as DeepSeek, Alibaba’s Qwen, and Zhipu’s GLM models.