TMTPOST -- Major cloud providers in the West could reportedly get role in artificial intelligence (AI) chip access outside U.S.,government as the Biden administration is increasing high-tech curbs on China.
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The U.S. government will unveil a scheme as soon as this month that will empower companies like Google and Microsoft to act as gatekeepers worldwide for highly sought-after access to AI chips, Reuters cited people familiar with the matter. Strict requirements under the scheme will require these companies to report key information to the U.S. government, block Chinese access to AI chips and grant permit to offer AI capabilities in the cloud beyond the U.S. without a license, according to the sources.
It was reported companies without the gatekeeper status will have to compete for a license to import a smaller number of high-end Nvidia and AMD AI chips in each country, but 19 allied countries and regions including Netherlands, Japan and Taiwan will be granted the exemption, thus boasting unlimited access to AI chips or the capability they provide.
The U.S. Commerce Department didn’t comment on the report, neither did Google or Microsoft. If the report is accurate, it would be the latest AI chip restriction Washington impose to China following a move at the beginning of this month.
The U.S Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) on December 2 unveiled a package of rules designed to further impair China’s capability to produce advanced-node semiconductors that can be used in the next generation of advanced weapon systems and in artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced computing.
The rules include new controls on 24 types of semiconductor manufacturing equipment and 3 types of software tools for developing or producing semiconductors; new controls on high-bandwidth memory (HBM); new red flag guidance to address compliance and diversion concerns; 140 Entity List additions and 14 modifications spanning Chinese tool manufacturers, semiconductor fabs, and investment companies involved in advancing the Chinese government’s military modernization; and several critical regulatory changes to enhance the effectiveness of the previous controls, according to a press of the BIS.
Under the new rules, nearly two dozen semiconductor companies, two investment companies and over 100 chipmaking tool makers under new restrictions from the entity list, which bars U.S. suppliers from shipping to them without first receiving a special license. Three partners of Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.--Swaysure Technology Co, Si'En Qingdao, and Shenzhen Pensun Technology Co. now face the new restrictions.
Moreover, the U.S. will expand its authority to control exports of chipmaking equiment produced in countries and regions outside U.S. to certain chip plants in China. Equipment made in Israel, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan is subject to the new rules while Japan and the Netherlands will be exempt.
Introduciton of the new news is a proactive measure enhancing the Department of Commerce’s work to impede the PRC’s ability to procure and produce the technologies necessary for its military modernization, the BIS said. The rules aim to impair China's "ability to indigenize the production of advanced technologies that pose a risk to our national security,”said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.
China firmly opposes the United States' latest control measures on semiconductor export, a spokesperson with the China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) responded a question about the U.S. government’s announcement of new export control. The United States is saying one thing and doing another, constantly overstretching the concept of "national security", abusing export control measures and engaging in unilateral bullying behaviors, the spokesperson said in the statement. The spokesperson warned China will take necessary measures to resolutely safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.
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