Nvidia-made ai semiconductors, the US is considering country-specific export regulations - sources.

Last updated on October 15, 2024, 11:25 JST.
Gulf countries with increasing demand for AI datacenters are the focus of authorities.
Export of AI semiconductors to over 40 countries in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia is already restricted.
The Biden administration is considering sales restrictions for advanced semiconductors for artificial intelligence (AI) produced by NVIDIA, AMD, and other US semiconductor manufacturers on a country-by-country basis, as disclosed by multiple informed sources. If the regulations are implemented, the AI capabilities of some countries will be limited.
According to anonymous sources citing classified information, a new approach is being considered to limit export permits for specific countries from a national security standpoint. The focus is on Gulf countries with ample financial resources to meet the rising demand for AI datacenters.
Despite gaining momentum in recent weeks, discussions are still in the early stages and remain fluid, with uncertainty on whether they will be introduced during President Biden's term.

Guidelines under consideration are expected to be added to a new framework to facilitate the export procedures of AI semiconductors for datacenters in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia. US Commerce Department officials announced those rules last month, stating that additional rules will be introduced in the future.
The Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), as well as Nvidia and AMD, have refrained from commenting. Comments have also been sought from Intel, but so far there has been no response.

The US government is closely monitoring the security risks associated with AI development in various countries, and setting country-specific limits could lead to strengthening regulations initially targeted at China's ambitious moves regarding AI. The Biden administration has already restricted the export of AI semiconductors by Nvidia, AMD, and others to over 40 countries in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. The concern is that these products may be misused in China.