U.S. Tightens AI Chip Export Controls to China Amid Military Advantage Concerns
Summary:
The U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has extended export controls for AI chips to China, with updated rules focusing on high-end chips that could benefit China's military. The new regulations impose a "performance threshold" which encompasses previously exempt models such as Nvidia's A800 and H800 chips. The measures also encompass preventing rules circumvention, calling for global licensing for export of controlled chips to U.S.-restricted countries, new identification methods for restricted chips, and public feedback on related issues. The rules come into effect from November 16, 2023. The revisions occur as China's tech giant Baidu launches the 4.0 version of its AI chatbot Ernie.
On October 17, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, issued additional regulations to the pre-existing export controls for artificial intelligence (AI) chips being shipped to China. The BIS clarified that these fresh guidelines merely "bolster" those implemented since October 2022 to curb China’s access to specialized, high-end chips that could potentially contribute to a tactical military edge. Alan F. Estevez, the Undersecretary of Commerce for Industry and Security, referred to these export restrictions as a potent instrument for national security, evolving with the assessment of potential threat to U.S. national security and external policy issues presented by China’s ever-growing civil-military fusion and military modernization.
The revised regulations implement a fresh "performance barrier" on the microchips allowed for export from the U.S.A. Traditionally, state-of-the-art chips from leading manufacturers such as Nvidia and AMD were the principal subjects of these export regulations, enabling these companies to continue exporting different chip models to China, including Nvidia’s A800 and H800 models. Nevertheless, the updated policy will prohibit even the A800 and H800 microchips from being exported to China. Nvidia has a large market share in China, in addition to Taiwan and the U.S.
The rules necessitate exporters to inform the government regarding the intent to export "particular additional chips" that just meet the performance barrier, after which the authorities will decide if the export transaction can proceed. Alongside these limitations, the U.S. government will also authorize an exemption for exporting chips intended for consumer uses.
Along with the new performance threshold, the BIS issued a strategy to prevent any dodging around the regulations. This involves establishing a global licensing prerequisite for shipping controlled chips to any U.S.-restricted nation, setting up new alert signals to pinpoint restricted chips, instigating a notification requisite for high-end gaming chip exports, and asking for public inputs on related themes. The government is also looking to restrict exports of machinery and materials required to create superior chips. The stipulated start date for these policies is November 16, 2023, and the public can submit comments about the regulations until 60 days after that.
This revision of conditions for chip export comes as Baidu, a prominent technology firm in China, announced the release of its AI chatbot Ernie's version 4.0, which they claim is as advanced as OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
Published At
10/17/2023 8:11:50 PM
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