GLOBAL AI DEVELOPMENTS

The global race for AI implementation & improvement

• Vatican embraces AI under Pope Leo XIV with continued HolyDeeds partnership

• Canada is frontrunner in AI talent immigration policies reshaping global tech competition

• US tightens restrictions on Huawei AI chip access

• Saudi Arabia buys $500M in US chips after Trump visit

• UAE’s ambitious AI-driven legislative initiative could reshape global governance

REGULATION & SAFETY

Law, lobbying & potential risks

• House GOP seeks 10-year freeze on state AI regulations

• AI legislation and concern is advancing at the state level as DC leans right in

• Sloplaw and disorder: AI-generated citations nearly fool judge in court ruling

• Is AI, like radio and social media before it, a “threat” to democracy?

• US eases Nvidia chip export limits but tightens pressure on China’s AI tech

AI Governance

The latest government programs & implementations

• AI-powered police tech evades facial recognition by tracking other physical features

• Federal HR systems cost taxpayers billions, Workday survey reveals

• The FDA is swallowing AI to speed up the drug approval process

• Dismissal of Copyright Office head raises questions of political interference amid AI training drive

• AI-powered social media monitoring expands US government reach

DEFENSE

Weapons, tech, research & contracts

• Google files reveal concerns over Project Nimbus control in Israel

• Tech giants face new bipartisan bill to loosen Pentagon contract control

• Top officials discuss new AI power dynamics in upcoming DC event

• Helsing’s AI-powered underwater surveillance system enhances maritime security

• National labs pour billions into AI research and development

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What’s happening in AI policy right now

Trump’s tech diplomacy reshapes global AI chip access

New semiconductor policies mark significant strategy shift in the Middle East

The Trump administration has dramatically reversed course on AI chip export restrictions while simultaneously tightening the screws on Chinese competitors, creating a new semiconductor landscape that benefits American chip giants like Nvidia while isolating China's homegrown alternatives.

In a series of policy shifts that unfolded during President Trump's Middle East tour, the US Department of Commerce rescinded the AI Diffusion Rule that limited exports of advanced AI chips. This reversal directly benefits Nvidia, which continues to dominate the global market for AI accelerators.

The timing is particularly noteworthy – Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang joined Trump in Saudi Arabia as part of an extensive business delegation seeking to attract investment and forge new partnerships. This high-profile visit included tech luminaries like Elon Musk and OpenAI's Sam Altman, underscoring the critical importance of semiconductor diplomacy in the current geopolitical landscape.

The new semiconductor diplomacy

Trump's tour has yielded concrete results. Saudi Arabia has secured access to cutting-edge US AI chips through agreements with both Nvidia and AMD. These deals go beyond mere chip sales – Nvidia will train local developers, while AMD has entered a $10 billion joint venture with Saudi Arabia's HUMAIN initiative.

The United Arab Emirates has similarly gained access to advanced AI semiconductors through a new framework agreement, part of a broader $1.4 trillion investment plan spanning energy, AI, and manufacturing sectors. The UAE has signaled its technological ambitions through a separate $3 billion investment to become an "AI-native" government by 2027, a plan that includes using AI to draft and update laws.

This marks a significant shift from Biden-era policies that restricted chip exports based on national security concerns. The new approach prioritizes market share and competitive advantage, effectively splitting the world into American and Chinese technological spheres of influence.

China's response and the Huawei factor

While opening doors to Gulf allies, the Trump administration has simultaneously intensified restrictions on China's AI capabilities. In a bold move, the Commerce Department has threatened global penalties for companies using Huawei's Ascend AI chips, citing US export control violations.

This extraterritorial enforcement represents a significant escalation in the technological confrontation with China. Despite years of US restrictions, Huawei has shown remarkable resilience, developing competitive AI chips that potentially challenge American chipmaker Nvidia's global dominance.

The strategy creates a clear choice for global tech companies: align with the US technology ecosystem or risk being cut off from it by working with Chinese alternatives.

Strategic implications and future outlook

This new semiconductor strategy reflects Clayton Christensen's concept of "skate to where the money will be." By securing market dominance in regions with growing AI ambitions and investment capital, US chip manufacturers position themselves to capture future value while simultaneously maintaining technological advantages.

The approach also aligns with what Jerry Chen describes as "new moats" in technology – controlling critical computational resources creates powerful defensive positions in the emerging AI economy. The companies that supply the underlying infrastructure for AI will likely capture disproportionate value as the technology becomes more pervasive.

For countries caught between competing technological ecosystems, these developments create difficult strategic choices. Gulf nations appear to be hedging, maintaining relationships with both US and Chinese technology providers while developing their own capabilities. This parallels the "The Stack of Enterprise Systems" framework, with countries attempting to build their own technology stacks while navigating complex geopolitical constraints.

The long-term success of this strategy depends on numerous factors: Will the extraterritorial enforcement of restrictions against Huawei be effective? How will international partners respond to being forced to choose sides? And can US chip manufacturers maintain their technological advantages in the face of determined competition?

As Max Tegmark might observe, this current semiconductor chess match represents a subset of the broader AI "race" with significant implications for global power dynamics. The companies and countries that control the fundamental building blocks of AI will have outsized influence over how the technology develops and who benefits from it.

What's clear is that semiconductor diplomacy has emerged as a central pillar of technological statecraft. The chips that power AI systems aren't just industrial products; they've become strategic assets in an increasingly complex global landscape.