Donald Trump’s administration is expected to rescind Joe Biden’s curbs on AI chip sales as part of a broader effort to revise semiconductor restrictions, Bloomberg reported.
In a statement, Nvidia said, “We welcome the administration’s leadership and new direction on AI policy. With the AI Diffusion Rule revoked, America will have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to lead the next industrial revolution and create high-paying U.S. jobs, build new U.S.-supplied infrastructure, and alleviate the trade deficit.”
Biden’s restrictions on AI chip sales were reminiscent of the days when the PlayStation 2’s sales were restricted because its processing power was considered close to that of a supercomputer, and that was dangerous if it fell in the hands of those trying to create nuclear weapons.
As such, the restrictions drew opposition from major tech companies and foreign governments, Bloomberg said. The news publication said the repeal is not yet final, but it could lift regulations on the export of chips from Nvidia and others. Trump will reportedly not enforce the AI diffusion rule when it takes effect on May 15. It’s perhaps a coincidence that Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang visited Trump at the White House earlier this year.
Bloomberg said that the change in policy is happening as Trump prepares for a trip to the Middle East, where Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have reportedly balked at the curbs on their ability to acquire AI chips. Nvidia’s stock price rose in trading today.