In its last week in office, the Biden administration unveiled so-called "artificial intelligence proliferation rules" that limit the number of AI processors that can be exported to most countries, triggering strong opposition from technology giants such as Nvidia. U.S. allies such as Israel and Poland are also unhappy with the rule, fearing it will threaten the supply of vital chips or make their countries less attractive for artificial intelligence investment.
Now, many governments and companies are trying to persuade the Trump team to relax some rules before the measures take effect in less than two months. Administration officials are far from consensus on how to move forward, and it's unclear which voices will prevail in the debate.
Spokespeople for the White House and the U.S. Commerce Department, which controls chip exports, did not respond to requests for comment. This report is based on interviews with more than a dozen people involved in the negotiations or with knowledge of them. All interviewees requested anonymity to be able to speak candidly, stressing that negotiations are ongoing.
Two people said one option currently not being considered at the staff level was total abolition. However, it remains to be seen whether higher-level officials will change their minds.