US announces new restrictions on export of artificial intelligence “microprocessors”

 New law needed to protect national security. Conversation with Commerce Minister Gina Rimando

Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Washington (Point News Today / Latest News - International Press Agency. January 14, 2025) The United States has announced new restrictions on the export and ownership of advanced artificial intelligence “microprocessors” and rules for the interaction of users of AI systems. The law will be submitted for 120 days for public comments and responses. US administration officials say that the new law is needed to protect national security.

According to the Voice of America, the announced law also explains how companies from trusted partner countries can access this emerging technology to promote innovation and creativity. Speaking to reporters, Commerce Secretary Gina Rimando said that in the coming years, artificial intelligence will be applied everywhere in every industry and business process around the world because it has enormous potential to increase productivity, social sectors, healthcare and economic benefits.

He said that as it is said that the more powerful the artificial intelligence chip, the more serious the threats to our national security will be. A senior administration official has said that the restrictions on the sale of AI chips under the new law will not apply to Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, the United Kingdom or the United States. Countries that are subject to the US arms embargo are already subject to the ban on advanced AI chips and will now also be subject to restrictions on acquiring powerful closed-loop AI models (independently operating microprocessors).

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration says that in closed-wet AI models, the wet itself determines how it will process the content sent by a user and what response it will provide to him. In a closed-wet AI chip, the processing rules and methods are secret, while in an open-wet system chip, the user can see under what procedure the chip generates a response from the given content. A senior US administration official said that most of the countries that are close partners of the United States or that are not subject to arms acquisition sanctions will not face licensing restrictions to obtain the latest AI chips, provided that effective security systems are implemented in their countries. Regarding these countries, the official said that some of the United States’ close allies have very effective security systems and have a documented record of protecting AI technology that meets our national security and foreign policy interests. The new law builds on the restrictions implemented in 2023 that restricted the export of certain types of artificial intelligence chips to China. Beijing has called the new US order a clear violation of international trade rules. China’s Ministry of Commerce has said that the Biden administration’s announcement is another example of the misuse of export controls and a clear violation of international multilateral economic and trade rules. Beijing said that it will take necessary measures to protect its legitimate rights and interests.