US tightens AI chip exports, but makes it easier to send them to 'safe' countries

The US Commerce Department is tightening controls on exporting advanced AI chips and the software that trains AI models. At the same time, it is creating new exceptions to make it easier to send these chips to countries that the US considers allies.

The US is trying to control who gets access to cutting-edge AI technology, especially for military or surveillance uses. This rule tries to balance that control with the need for US companies to sell their products globally. It means that the global supply chain for AI hardware and software will now be explicitly divided into 'trusted' and 'untrusted' zones, based on US national security interests.