Congressional Call to Action
Leading members of a U.S. committee focused on China, Representatives Mike Gallagher and Raja Krishnamoorthi, have called upon the Biden administration to reinforce restrictions on artificial intelligence (AI) chip exports. This appeal comes in the wake of extensive industry lobbying to maintain the status quo of the export rules.
The Current State of Export Control Rules
These lawmakers are specifically advocating for a significant reinforcement of export control rules introduced last October, which prohibited China's access to premium AI chips produced by top U.S. companies like Nvidia, Advanced Micro Devices, and Intel. The original regulations imposed two performance limitations on exporting AI chips to China, governing how quickly the chips can communicate and their processing speeds.
Industry Response to Current Rules
Following the introduction of these restrictions, Nvidia and Intel created special chips for China with reduced interconnect speeds. Despite the lower speeds, Nvidia's chips maintain sufficient processing power to contribute to AI system development, raising concerns that the current U.S. export controls have barely hindered the progress of China's AI sector.
The Impact of Tighter Control Rules
Rumors of stricter regulations, focusing solely on processing speeds, have stirred extensive lobbying activities. Tech giants Nvidia, Intel, and Qualcomm's top executives recently visited Washington to discuss China policy, expressing concerns that further restrictions could lead to a permanent loss of opportunities for the U.S. industry.
Lawmakers' New Recommendations
Gallagher and Krishnamoorthi propose a stricter approach than previously considered, advocating to maintain and even lower the speed limit on-chip communication. Their recommendations also include careful consideration of measures to hinder Chinese firms' access to advanced computing chips in the cloud, a service currently offered by leading U.S. companies such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Google.
Striving for a Secure Technological Future
Their concluding appeal emphasizes the need to protect U.S. technological prowess and intellectual property, ensuring that they aren't weaponized against the nation. This call for action underscores the ongoing concern about the sensitive balance between global competitiveness, technological innovation, and national security.
