Lawmakers in the US support mandatory tracking of AI chip exports to China

A new US bill would require tracking the location of AI chips after they are sold, in an effort to curb illegal exports to China. Congressman Bill Foster is preparing legislation that would mandate location tracking for advanced chips—such as those made by Nvidia—to ensure they remain in compliance with export restrictions. The move comes after multiple reports of large-scale smuggling, with banned chips reportedly making their way into China despite existing controls, according to Reuters. Foster says the technology needed for this kind of monitoring already exists in many cases, sometimes built directly into Nvidia chips. Google uses similar systems to keep tabs on its own chips in data centers. The proposal has support from both parties, with Democrats and Republicans backing mandatory chip tracking. Nvidia has not commented on the bill. If passed, the draft calls for the US trade authority to develop specific rules for tracking within six months.