US Limits Global Exports of Microprocessors

The U.S. government announced on Monday that it would further restrict the export of microprocessors used for artificial intelligence, aiming to keep advanced technology within the United States or share it only with allied countries.

The new restrictions are seen as an effort to balance concerns over artificial intelligence’s potential threat to national security with the economic interests of producers and other countries.

The new regulations limit the number of microprocessors that can be exported to a large number of countries and will allow unrestricted access to this technology for Washington’s closest allies. Exports of these products are banned to China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.

However, the new restrictions, which were made public in the final days of President Joe Biden’s administration, go beyond China and aim to help the United States maintain its dominant status in the field of artificial intelligence by controlling the flow of microprocessors globally.

“The U.S. is already a leader in artificial intelligence — both in developing the technology and in producing microprocessors for AI. It is important that we maintain this,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.

The new regulation is the result of a four-year effort by the Biden administration to prevent China from acquiring advanced microprocessors that could be used to enhance its military capabilities.

While it is currently unclear what approach the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump will take toward the new regulations, what is known is that both administrations share similar views on the threat posed by China.

The regulation is expected to come into effect 120 days after its publication, giving the Trump administration time to review it.

However, some influential voices in the industry had already criticized the Biden administration’s plan even before it was made public.

Nvidia, the leading company in the production of microprocessors for artificial intelligence, said the new rules from the White House would impose restrictions on U.S. companies for a technology that is already available on the market. Another major company in data storage, Oracle, said the new export restrictions would give global market share to competing Chinese companies. /VOA/