Biden expands chip controls to curb China's access to AI

MOVE WILL MAINTAIN A BLOCK ON EXPORTS TO RUSSIA, IRAN AND N KOREA

- KAREN FREIFELD

THE US GOVERNMENT said on Monday it would further restrict artificial intelligence chip and technology exports, divvying up the world to keep advanced computing power in the US and among its allies while finding more ways to block China's access.

The new regulations will cap the number of AI chips that can be exported to most countries and allow unlimited access to U.S. AI technology for America's closest allies, while also maintaining a block on exports to China, Russia, Iran and North Korea.

The lengthy new rules unveiled in the final days of outgoing President Joe Biden's administration go beyond China and are aimed at helping the US keep its dominant status in AI by controlling it around the world.

"The US leads AI now - both AI development and AI chip design, and it's critical that we keep it that way," US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said.