The Lawfare Podcast Lawfare Daily: Janet Egan and Lennart Heim on the AI Diffusion Rule
Jan 17, 2025
Janet Egan, a Senior Fellow at CNAS, and Lennart Heim, an AI researcher at RAND, dive into the recent interim final rule on AI diffusion. They unpack its potential impact on global AI development and the delicate balance of national security amid rising competition with China. The guest speakers highlight the tiered export control system, the complexities of technology supply chains, and bipartisan concerns over AI export policies. They also discuss the ongoing U.S.-China AI race, shedding light on strategic choices for stakeholders in this fast-evolving landscape.
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AI Diffusion Rule as Comprehensive Effort
- The Biden administration's interim final rule on AI diffusion represents its most comprehensive effort yet to regulate AI tech exports.
- The rule tightens control over exports of advanced chips and algorithms to nations like China, impacting the global AI race.
Three-Tiered Approach to Export Controls
- The rule creates three tiers of countries: trusted partners, a middle group, and geostrategic competitors.
- This marks a shift from targeted controls to a broader, tiered approach.
Tier One Inclusion Rationale
- Tier one includes close allies due to strong domestic export controls and geostrategic alignment with the U.S.
- The rule aims to address chip smuggling and remote compute access concerns.