The United States government is reportedly considering implementing country-specific limits on the export of advanced AI chips from American companies such as Nvidia, according to a Bloomberg News report citing anonymous sources familiar with the matter.
The proposed restrictions are primarily focused on Persian Gulf countries and aim to set a ceiling on export licences for some nations in the interest of national security.
The discussions come in the wake of recent changes to U.S. export regulations. Last month, the Commerce Department introduced a rule that could potentially ease the shipment of AI chips to data centres in the Middle East. Under this new rule, data centres can apply for Validated End User status, allowing them to receive chips under a general authorisation rather than requiring their U.S. suppliers to obtain individual licences for each shipment.
The impact of these potential restrictions could be significant for major U.S. chip manufacturers.As these discussions are still in their early stages, the specifics of how such restrictions might be implemented remain unclear.