By Karen Freifeld
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Commerce Division on Monday unveiled a rule that might ease shipments of synthetic intelligence chips to knowledge facilities within the Center East.
Since October 2023, U.S. exporters have been required to acquire licenses earlier than delivery superior chips to components of the Center East and Central Asia.
Underneath the brand new rule, knowledge facilities will have the ability to apply for Validated Finish Person standing that may enable them to obtain chips below a basic authorization, slightly than requiring their U.S. suppliers to acquire particular person licenses to ship to them.
The U.S. will work with overseas knowledge facilities that apply for the Validated Finish Person program in addition to host governments to make sure the protection and safety of the expertise, a U.S. official mentioned.
The transfer comes amid rising considerations in Washington that the Center East may turn into a conduit for China to acquire superior American chips which are barred from being shipped on to China.
G42, a UAE-based AI firm with historic ties to China, has been a spotlight of these considerations. In April, Microsoft (NASDAQ:) introduced it could make investments $1.5 billion within the firm, and that it deliberate to offer G42 with chips and mannequin weights, subtle knowledge that improves an AI mannequin’s capacity to emulate human reasoning.
The deal drew scrutiny from China hardliners in Congress, regardless that G42 mentioned in February it had divested from China and was accepting constraints imposed on it by the US to work with American firms.
G42, which owns knowledge facilities, didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Information facilities which apply for this system will endure a rigorous evaluation course of to verify safeguards are in place to maintain U.S. expertise from being diverted or utilized in methods opposite to nationwide safety, the Commerce Division mentioned in an announcement.
The company’s Bureau of Business and Safety “is committed to facilitating international AI development while mitigating risks to U.S. and global security,” Alan Estevez, a Commerce official, mentioned within the assertion.