The US government on Monday presented a framework of new rules on the export of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, to both facilitate sales to allied countries and prevent its adversaries like China from having access to the latest innovations.
“The United States is now the world leader in AI, whether it is the development or design of specialized AI chips, and it is essential that it remains that way,” said Gina Raimondo, the Minister of Commerce, during a press briefing.
Restrictions since 2023
In October 2023, it unveiled new restrictions on the export of the most efficient chips to China, in particular components used for AI, to prevent their use by Beijing for military purposes.
The new rules presented Monday “make it more difficult for our competitors, who use smuggling and remote connections to escape our export controls,” said Jake Sullivan, national security adviser.
And “they inspire our friends and partners around the world to use trusted suppliers for advanced AI.”
In this context, Washington wants to impose new authorizations for exports and transfers of sophisticated computer chips, in an expanded list of countries.
Exceptions
This rule includes a series of exceptions for allied countries – including Switzerland -, particularly when it comes to limited volumes, meeting the needs of universities, for example.
The second rule strengthens controls on the distribution of the parameters of the most advanced generative AI models.
OpenAI (ChatGPT), Google and other companies are leading a race toward ever-better models that can compete with humans on many cognitive tasks.
Finally, AI data centers, which contain the computer servers necessary to operate the most innovative models, will have to respect reinforced security conditions to have the right to import cutting-edge components.
By May
This regulation will only come into force in 120 days, “to give the new administration time” to make changes if it wishes, said Gina Raimondo.
AI “is a dual-use technology”, insisted the minister: “it is used in many commercial applications, but it can also be used by our adversaries to carry out nuclear simulations, develop biological weapons and perfect the ‘army. So it’s complicated.
afp/juma
