DIGIVESTASI - US Tightens AI Chip Export Regulations for National Security

The United States government has announced a new policy restricting the export of artificial intelligence (AI) chips to certain countries. The regulations will focus on chips manufactured using 14nm, 16nm, or more advanced technologies.

According to a report from the BBC on Thursday (January 17, 2025), the policy will differentiate export treatment based on country tiers. A total of 18 countries have been classified as tier 1, including close US allies such as the United Kingdom, South Korea, Japan, the Netherlands, Australia, and New Zealand.

Countries not categorized under tier 1 or tier 3 are placed in tier 2. These include Singapore, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and several European Union countries, such as Poland.

Meanwhile, tier 3 encompasses 22 countries facing stricter restrictions, including China, Hong Kong, Macau, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Syria.

This new policy aims to safeguard national security and support the United States' foreign policy strategy. Additionally, the regulations are designed to establish a secure technological ecosystem and promote responsible AI development.

The rules target chips built with 14nm, 16nm, or more advanced technology containing over 30 billion transistors. However, chips with computational power up to 1,700 GPUs, typically used for academic, institutional, or non-harmful research purposes, are exempt from the restrictions.

Under the implementation of this policy, tier 1 countries will have full access to AI chip technology from US companies. Meanwhile, countries outside tier 1 that are not under strict monitoring can still apply for permits to purchase up to 320,000 GPUs. Other countries are limited to acquiring up to 50,000 GPUs per nation.