The US is cracking down on AI chip smuggling to China. Democrat Bill Foster is leading the charge. He’s introducing a bill to track AI chips made by companies like NVIDIA after they’re sold. The goal is to stop these chips from ending up in China, violating US export bans.
Foster, a former particle physicist, says there’s tech available to track these chips. Most of this tech is already embedded in NVIDIA’s chips. Experts agree. Foster says there are credible reports of large-scale chip smuggling. The bill has bipartisan support. Both Republicans and Democrats back it.
How it works
The bill will require US regulators to take two key steps. First, they’ll track AI chips to ensure they end up where they’re supposed to, following export rules. Second, they’ll make sure these chips can’t be activated without an export license. Regulators will have six months to make this happen.
Tracking technology isn’t new. Google already uses it to monitor its AI chips and others within its data centers. This tech helps with security.
The bill comes as reports show some US-made chips still make their way to China. NVIDIA has said it can’t track its products after they’re sold. But Foster disagrees. He believes the tech is there. With this bill, the US is taking a stand against chip smuggling.