US Accelerates Export Restrictions On AI Chips to China, Iran, Russia

The logo of Nvidia Corporation is seen during the annual Computex computer exhibition in Taipei, Taiwan May 30, 2017.
The logo of Nvidia Corporation is seen during the annual Computex computer exhibition in Taipei, Taiwan May 30, 2017.

The United States has expedited the enforcement of restrictions on the immediate export of specific high-end artificial intelligence (AI) chips to China, Iran, and Russia.

Originally set to become effective 30 days after the announcement on October 17 by the Biden administration, which aimed to prevent multiple countries, including China, Iran, and Russia, from acquiring advanced AI chips, the limitations have been fast-tracked.

Nvidia, a prominent chip designer, disclosed on Tuesday that it had received direct orders from the US government to cease exports but did not provide explicit reasons for the accelerated timeline. Fellow semiconductor company Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) is also subject to the restrictions, although no immediate response has been issued to inquiries from Reuters. The US Department of Commerce has refrained from commenting on the matter.

The export restrictions impact Nvidia's modified advanced AI chips, specifically the A800 and H800, both originally tailored for the Chinese market to align with prior restrictions. In a letter addressed to specific high-level graphics processors of Nvidia, the significance of the processors in AI development was emphasized.

The US recently implemented a phased series of restrictions on semiconductor companies related to the export of advanced processors to China.

President Joe Biden first introduced restrictions on the export of AI processors last September. In response to the limitations, Nvidia introduced altered versions of its processors designed explicitly for the Chinese market to comply with the restrictions. However, the newly imposed sanctions now encompass the modified processors as well.