Efforts by China to advance in artificial intelligence have raised concerns in Washington, prompting the Trump administration and U.S. lawmakers to focus regulatory and investigative scrutiny on Chinese firms like DeepSeek and their technology partners, including American chipmaker Nvidia. The administration is considering tighter controls to impede Beijing’s rapid progress in artificial intelligence, which is perceived as both an economic and national security threat.
Recent discussions center on imposing new rules or even expanding export restrictions to prevent the flow of American advanced semiconductor technology to key Chinese artificial intelligence players. Legislators and officials argue that maintaining American leadership in artificial intelligence hinges on denying China access to superior hardware and software fueled by leading U.S. firms such as Nvidia, whose chips are foundational to cutting-edge artificial intelligence applications worldwide.
This response builds on an evolving strategy since the previous administration, which began to restrict technology sales to China to curb its rise as a competitor in artificial intelligence and other high-tech industries. Lawmakers are seeking both immediate and long-term measures to address perceived loopholes and ensure that U.S. companies, directly or indirectly, do not support advances in Chinese artificial intelligence capability that could undermine American economic interests or national security. The initiative underscores increasingly stringent U.S. trade and technology policy toward China, particularly in the realm of semiconductors and artificial intelligence.
