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On Monday, the US Department of Commerce revealed a rule that may facilitate the shipment of artificial intelligence chips to data centers in the Middle East.
Since October 2023, US authorities have required exporters to obtain licenses before shipping advanced chips to parts of the Middle East and Central Asia.
Under the new rule, data centers will be able to apply for a designation known as “authorized end user,” which will allow them to receive chips under a general license, rather than needing US suppliers to obtain individual licenses to ship them to them.
An American official said that the United States will work with data centers that apply to benefit from the program, as well as host governments, to ensure the safety and security of the technology.
This move comes amid growing concerns in Washington that the Middle East may become a channel for China to obtain advanced American chips that are prohibited from being shipped directly to China.
The company, which owns data centers, has not yet responded to a request for comment.
The Commerce Department said in a statement that data centers that apply for the program will undergo a rigorous review process to ensure that the necessary safeguards are in place to prevent American technology from being diverted or used in ways that conflict with national security.
