Export controls are government-imposed legal restrictions on the cross-border transfer of specified goods, software, technology, and technical knowledge, typically for national-security, foreign-policy, or non-proliferation reasons. In the AI domain they increasingly govern advanced semiconductors, high-performance compute, and associated design tools, restricting which jurisdictions and entities may receive cutting-edge hardware. Compliance regimes such as the US EAR and the Wassenaar Arrangement define controlled-item lists, licensing requirements, and end-use screening.
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- Modern AI-relevant export-control regimes target high-end GPUs, chip-fabrication equipment, and model weights above defined capability thresholds, requiring licences, end-use certificates, and entity-list screening. They shape global supply chains and strategic positioning, but raise enforcement challenges given the dual-use nature and digital portability of AI artefacts.