The Biden administration is considering restrictions on the export of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) chips, made by Nvidia and other US companies, to certain countries. The measure aims to protect national security by restricting access to artificial intelligence technologies in some countries, according to sources close to the matter.
The proposal includes setting a maximum limit on export licenses, especially to the Arab Gulf countries, which have shown increasing interest in data centers based on artificial intelligence and have significant financial resources to develop them. Discussions are still at an early stage and the plan continues to develop, Bloomberg revealed.
This approach would continue to impose restrictions already in place, designed to limit China's AI ambitions. Washington is currently imposing restrictions on exports of artificial intelligence chips to more than 40 countries in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, due to fears that these technologies could be transferred to China.
The proposed policy could facilitate the licensing process for countries such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia, while maintaining tight control over the use of these chips. The new rules will be based on a set of regulations introduced by the US Department of Commerce last month.
Although both Nvidia and the other companies involved, such as Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and Intel, declined to comment on the matter, a White House National Security Council spokesperson pointed to a joint statement between the United States and the United Arab Emirates, in which they acknowledged the potential of AI for “good.” He highlighted the challenges associated with its adoption.
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