Biden-Harris Admin Imposes New Export Controls On AI Chips

The Biden-Harris administration announced on Monday that it would restrict exports of chips used for artificial intelligence (AI) and technology, according to a White House press release.

The new regulations, which were unveiled just a week before President Joe Biden is set to leave office, will cap the number of AI chips that can be exported to most countries, according to the press release. The export controls are intended to continue “to ensure that advanced semiconductors sold abroad are not used by countries of concern to train advanced AI systems,” the announcement states.

The regulations are also aimed at strengthening “U.S. security and economic strength,” according to the press release. The rules will go into effect in 120 days, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo told reporters Sunday.

The White House warned in its announcement that the U.S. “must act decisively to lead this transition by ensuring that U.S. technology undergirds global AI use and that adversaries cannot easily abuse advanced AI.” Chip sales to 18 U.S. allies and partners will be free of restrictions, according to the press release.

“Today, countries of concern actively employ AI – including U.S.-made AI – in this way, and seek to undermine U.S. AI leadership,” according to the White House statement.

The administration’s announcement comes amid escalating trade tensions between the U.S. and China. The Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security on Dec. 2 announced