The United States is considering tightening chip export control measures once again, citing national security concerns. Reports suggest that the Biden administration is contemplating restrictions on advanced artificial intelligence (AI) chip sales by American companies such as Nvidia and AMD.
According to sources, new regulations are being considered to set limits on export permissions to certain countries, with a focus on Gulf nations that not only have strong financial resources but also an increasing demand for AI data centers.
The assessment of these potential regulations is still in its early stages and subject to change, but the idea has garnered widespread attention in recent weeks.
Last month, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced the establishment of a new framework to streamline the authorization process for exporting AI chips to data centers in countries like the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, with plans for additional regulations. These proposed export restrictions serve as a supplement to the new framework.
The U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), responsible for export controls, declined to comment on the matter. Representatives from Nvidia, AMD, and Intel have also not responded to requests for comments from Bloomberg.
In a bid to curb China’s ambitions in the AI field, the Biden administration has already tightened export restrictions on AI chips to over 40 countries in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, amid concerns that their products could be diverted to China.
Meanwhile, U.S. officials have started to view semiconductor export licenses, particularly for Nvidia chips, as bargaining chips to achieve broader diplomatic goals, potentially including requirements for key companies to reduce ties with China to access U.S. technology.
Additionally, the U.S. is also concerned about the potential misuse of AI capabilities.
Tarun Chhabra, Senior Director for Technology at the National Security Council, stated in a forum in June, “We must engage with countries around the world to understand how they intend to use these capabilities.”
“If it is a country with strong internal surveillance mechanisms, then we must consider: how will they use these capabilities to enhance surveillance, and what would that look like?” Chhabra remarked.
Maher Bitar, another official from the National Security Council, emphasized that consideration must be given to how global AI development could impact U.S. intelligence operations.
“Not only in terms of human rights, but also in security and counterintelligence, what risks will our personnel around the world face?” Bitar said at the same forum.