US lawmakers take aim at China's burgeoning AI chip industry with new legislation.
In a move aimed at bolstering national security, the US House Foreign Affairs Committee has voted unanimously to advance a bill that would grant Congress significant authority over the exports of artificial intelligence chips to countries deemed adversaries by the United States.
The bill, titled the "AI Overwatch Act," has been championed by Representative Brian Mast (R-FL), who argues that advanced AI chips could potentially fall into the wrong hands and be used for malicious purposes.
While the bill's supporters, including tech advocacy group Americans for Responsible Innovation, claim it will slow China's progress in developing AI capabilities that could rival those of the US, critics argue that it is overly broad and could stifle innovation.
The White House has pushed back on the bill, with its AI tsar, David Sacks, claiming it was orchestrated by "Never Trumpers" and former staffers of Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden. However, supporters of the legislation say that these claims are baseless and that the bill is necessary to protect national security.
The legislation would give the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate Banking Committee 30 days to review and potentially block licenses issued for the export of advanced AI chips to China and other countries deemed adversaries by the US. The Department of Commerce would also be required to provide lawmakers with a detailed application showing that the chips would not be used for military or intelligence applications.
As the bill moves forward, it remains to be seen whether lawmakers will be able to overcome opposition from tech giants like Nvidia and push through legislation that could have far-reaching implications for the global AI industry.
In a move aimed at bolstering national security, the US House Foreign Affairs Committee has voted unanimously to advance a bill that would grant Congress significant authority over the exports of artificial intelligence chips to countries deemed adversaries by the United States.
The bill, titled the "AI Overwatch Act," has been championed by Representative Brian Mast (R-FL), who argues that advanced AI chips could potentially fall into the wrong hands and be used for malicious purposes.
While the bill's supporters, including tech advocacy group Americans for Responsible Innovation, claim it will slow China's progress in developing AI capabilities that could rival those of the US, critics argue that it is overly broad and could stifle innovation.
The White House has pushed back on the bill, with its AI tsar, David Sacks, claiming it was orchestrated by "Never Trumpers" and former staffers of Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden. However, supporters of the legislation say that these claims are baseless and that the bill is necessary to protect national security.
The legislation would give the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate Banking Committee 30 days to review and potentially block licenses issued for the export of advanced AI chips to China and other countries deemed adversaries by the US. The Department of Commerce would also be required to provide lawmakers with a detailed application showing that the chips would not be used for military or intelligence applications.
As the bill moves forward, it remains to be seen whether lawmakers will be able to overcome opposition from tech giants like Nvidia and push through legislation that could have far-reaching implications for the global AI industry.