Biden announces the last AI chip restrictions for China and Russia

Biden announces the last AI chip restrictions for China and Russia

The bid administration has issued new restrictions on the export of computer chips developed in the USA that drive artificial intelligence (AI). This is done in a last attempt to prevent rivals like China from gaining access to this progressive technology just a week before the end of his term.

new export restrictions and their effects

The current measures are the climax of years to prevent China from doing so in its military and industrial leadership efforts. These developments are likely to further heat the tensions between Washington and Beijing, especially in the run -up to President Donald Trump's inauguration in the coming week. In addition, US technology giants such as Nvidia and Oracle expressed sharp criticism.

The opinion of the US government

Minister of Trade Gina Raimondo told reporters on Sunday that the new rules “pursue the goal of protecting the most advanced AI technology and ensuring that they do not get into the hands of our foreign opponents, but at the same time also enable broad spread and exchange of advantages with partner countries”.

The global export framework conditions

The global export framework announced on Monday creates three categories of countries for the export of progressive AI chips and technologies. No new restrictions apply to partners and allies such as Australia, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. A second category includes countries such as China and Russia that are already excluded from the acquisition of progressive chips. These countries are now subject to new restrictions in the sale of the most powerful “closed” AI models, the underlying architectures of which are not made public.

The changes for most countries

The most important changes affect the third group, which includes most of the world. These countries will soon be confronted with new upper limits for the amount of computing power that they can acquire. However, you have the option of applying for additional contingents under certain safety requirements. Analysts believe that this change aims to prevent China from receiving AI chips over third countries, especially in the Middle East.

background of the measures

The restrictions are announced against the background of a increasing need for AI chips that are made by companies such as Nvidia, AMD and Intel. With the upcoming end of the term of office of Biden, a 120-day comment period for the new rules begins, which will come into force before this period.

reactions of the technology industry

Technologists such as Nvidia, the world's largest provider of processors for AI, and Oracle have sharply criticized the latest restrictions. In a blog post, Ned Finkle, Vice President for Government Matters at Nvidia, wrote that the global introduction of AI growth and opportunities for industries at home and abroad create. "This global progress is now at risk," says Finkle. Bidding administration tries to limit access to everyday application areas of computer technology with its unprecedented and misguided regulation on “AI diffusion”, which endangers innovations and economic growth worldwide.

criticism of the measures

Oracle Vice President Ken Glueck expressed that the rule “more contributing to achieve extreme regulatory influence than protecting the interests of the United States and its partners”. He added that the measures would "anchor the law of the intended consequences and jeopardize the critical technology progress of the United States". In the last week, the Semiconductor Industry Association based in Washington expressed its "deep concern about the unprecedented scope and complexity of this potential regulation, which was developed without the inclusion of industry and could have significant negative effects on the management position and competitiveness of the United States in the area of semiconductor technology and advanced AI systems.