US authorities strive for simplified routes to prohibit the export of AI while safeguarding technological classified information.

A bipartisan bill has been introduced by legislators in the United States, aimed at supporting the Biden administration in implementing export controls on top artificial intelligence (AI) models created in the country. The bill, announced by House Republicans Michael McCaul and John Molenaar, as well as Democrats Raja Krishnamoorthi and Susan Wild, seeks to streamline future regulations on AI exports and provide the Commerce Department with the power to prevent American citizens from collaborating with foreign agents on AI systems that could pose a risk to national security. The current legislation makes it challenging for the Commerce Department to regulate open-source AI models, but if the proposed bill is passed, it would remove obstacles to regulating open-source AI exports.
This move comes in response to a report from Reuters on May 8, which stated that the US is prepared to protect its domestic AI industry from China and Russia by implementing export controls on its most advanced proprietary AI models. China has been known to use open-source models from the US, such as Meta’s Llama models, to develop its own AI capabilities.
In addition, Microsoft recently entered into an agreement with AI company G42 on April 16. The deal, worth $1.5 billion, aims to enhance AI innovation in the United Arab Emirates and grants the UAE access to cutting-edge AI technologies developed by Microsoft in the US. Microsoft has made similar deals with foreign governments to collaborate on the development and use of its AI models and cloud services.
However, the US remains concerned about the Chinese government obtaining high-level AI technology. In November 2023, 01.AI, a prominent Chinese AI company founded by former Google executive Lee Kai-fu, disclosed that its AI model Yi-34B was built using Meta’s Llama system. The US government has taken various steps to impose sanctions on China and limit its access to US-made AI technology. For instance, in January, Chinese AI firm Baidu faced potential sanctions due to allegations that the People’s Liberation Army was using the company’s technology for military purposes.