Legislation proposed to hinder Nvidia chip exports to China due to concerns over national security
Informal Take: The US is gearing up to crack down on the sneaky smuggling of AI chips, mainly made by Nvidia, to China. Lawmakers are planning to introduce a new law requiring these chips to be tracked after they leave the store, to prevent the widespread violation of export control laws. This move comes after reports of China making a killing with these chips, worth $17 billion for Nvidia alone last year. Some of these chips have been sneaking past the radar, but tech experts say the tracking tech already exists—it's just not being used!
Particle Physicist Turned Lawmaker's Brainchild
The brains behind this operation is Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL), a former particle physicist. He's planning to introduce a bill that would make U.S. regulators come up with rules to track chips and ensure they're where they're supposed to be under export control licenses. Plus, the chips wouldn't boot up if they're not properly licensed.
Bipartisan Backing
This isn't a one-man show—the bill has bipartisan support. Fellow Democrat, Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), says location tracking is a smart solution to stop the smuggling. Even Republicans, like John Moolenaar (R-MI), are on board, though no one has signed on yet.
The Tech behind Tracking
The tech to track chips after they're sold is not new—it's been built into Nvidia's chips for a while now. All they need to do is use it. The proposed bill would give the U.S. Department of Commerce six months to come up with regulations to require this technology.
A Step Closer to Security
If the bill passes, it would be a significant step towards ensuring national security, as China's DeepSeek AI systems, built with Nvidia chips, pose a strong threat to U.S. systems. This move could also help prevent larger issues like the creation of biological weapons using AI.
Now, here's a cool fact: Google already tracks the location of its in-house AI chips in its data centers for security purposes. The trick is for the chip to communicate with a secured computer server, relying on the known speed of light to verify the location of the chip.
More Details
The proposed legislation aims to improve national security by preventing AI chips from being smuggled to foreign adversaries, particularly China, and ensures they are tracked post-export. The bill is a response to evidence of chip smuggling into China and aims to prevent unauthorized use under export control laws.
The legislation covers a wide range of products classified under ECCNs, such as advanced processors for AI, AI servers, and general-purpose electronics. The bill would require chips to be equipped with technology that allows for the verification of their physical location. The specific mechanisms for tracking have not been detailed in current reports.
The proposed bill has bipartisan support, with members of the House Select Committee on China endorsing the measure, addressing concerns about chip smuggling and unauthorized use, particularly by China, which could undermine U.S. technological leadership and pose security risks.
- The proposed legislation aims to ensure that national security is maintained, as the unauthorized use of AI chips, particularly by China, poses a significant threat.
- The tech to track AI chips after they're sold is not new; it's already been built into some chips, and the proposed bill seeks to mandate its use.
- The bill, which has bipartisan support, requires chips to be equipped with technology that allows for the verification of their physical location post-export.
- This move could help prevent larger issues such as the potential creation of biological weapons using AI technology, a concern that has been highlighted in the context of China's DeepSeek AI systems.
