Europe hopes Trump trumps Biden's plan for US to play AI gatekeeper

The European Commission is displeased with the Biden administration's plans to extend export controls on AI chips and models to most of the world.

In a joint statement released on Monday, Executive VP for technological sovereignty Henna Virkkunen and Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič expressed concerns about the measures, which limit the quantity of AI hardware some EU member nations can import.

"We are concerned about the US measures adopted today restricting access to advanced AI chip exports for selected EU member states and their companies," they wrote. "We believe it is also in the US economic and security interest that the EU buys advanced AI chips from the US without limitations: we cooperate closely, in particular in the field of security, and represent an economic opportunity for the US, not a security risk."

We represent an economic opportunity for the US, not a security risk

Under the rules detailed by the White House on Monday, the US, Japan, UK, South Korea, and the Netherlands will be exempt from rules import caps. Countries of concern, most notably Russia, China, and Iran, would be barred from purchasing the tech outright. The Biden administration suggested the measures will enhance the USA’s national security and economic strength.

As we understand it, the rules will come into effect 120 days from publication – meaning they’ll be enacted once president-elect Donald Trump assumes office, and long after current president Joe Biden has left the White House.

Virkkunen and Šefčovič wrote they’ve nonetheless engaged with the Biden administration but also hope to discuss the rules with Trump’s team.

"We have already shared our concerns with the current US administration and we are looking forward to engaging constructively with the next US administration. We are confident that we can find a way to maintain a secure transatlantic supply chain on AI technology and super computers, for the benefit of our companies and citizens on both sides of the Atlantic," Virkkunen and Šefčovič wrote.

• Biden said to weigh global limits on AI exports in 11th-hour trade war blitz
• Biden administration bars China from buying HBM chips critical for AI accelerators
• Biden has brought the ban hammer down on US export of AI chips to China
• China gorging on silicon before Uncle Sam slams the door

The Register asked the Trump transition team for comment and will report any substantial remarks we receive.

As we reported earlier today, GPU giant Nvidia has also raised concerns with the rules, arguing that, if implemented, they threatened to "squander America's hard-won technological advantage" rather than protect US interests. ®