White House Considers Nvidia, AMD AI Chip Export Limits

The White House is evaluating potential export restrictions on AI chips produced by Nvidia and AMD to enhance national security and address competitive concerns in the technology sector

Bloomberg reported on Monday that the Biden administration has privately considered restricting the sale of advanced AI processors from Nvidia and AMD to specific Persian Gulf countries to protect national security.

The restriction may impose a cap on export licensing for specific countries, such as the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, which are making substantial investments in AI data centers.

The White House is increasingly perceiving American AI processors as a critical competitive advantage on a global scale.

In order to seal the loopholes through which AI chips could be indirectly imported into China, the United States imposed export restrictions on 40 other countries and prohibited the sale of advanced AI processors to China by Nvidia and AMD last year.

The most recent discussions reported may suggest that U.S. officials are concerned about the Persian Gulf’s global influence on the AI industry.

According to reports, Saudi Arabia intends to establish a $40 billion fund to invest in AI technology this year. Additionally, OpenAI is said to have engaged in discussions with a UAE-backed investment fund regarding its participation in its most recent $6.6 billion funding round.