The US is moving to block remote computing power backdoors! New rules are proposed to ban Chinese AI companies from accessing Nvidia chips via Thailand and Singapore.

According to reports, the Trump administration is developing a new set of AI export control rules, marking the first attempt to extend restrictions from physical chips to remote computing power access.

The new rules would directly close the "backdoor" for Chinese companies to remotely access computing power from advanced US AI chips such as Nvidia's through data centers in third countries like Thailand and Singapore.

A small team within the US Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is drafting these rules. Current US export controls only govern chip buyers and actual holders, without restricting Chinese companies from remotely renting computing power through overseas data centers.

The new rules directly target Chinese AI companies such as Moonshot AI and DeepSeek. US officials believe these companies are using American technology to train their latest models. Previous reports indicated that Moonshot AI was accused by US officials of obtaining restricted computing power through overseas data centers.

If implemented, this would mark the first time the US has attempted to introduce a comprehensive policy that simultaneously addresses chip export restrictions and curbs China's AI development.

The new rules are still in the drafting stage, with BIS planning to solicit feedback from AI companies and industry organizations as early as September. However, uncertainty remains over whether the rules will ultimately be finalized. In March, BIS released a draft regulation that was withdrawn after just over a week due to strong opposition from the US AI industry.

Additionally, Jeffrey Kessler, the Assistant Secretary overseeing BIS, stated clearly at a July House hearing that there were no plans to introduce a replacement for the Biden administration's "AI diffusion rule," calling it "a bad rule from the start."

Michelle Nye, a visiting fellow at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), said that without access to the most powerful computing resources, China's ambitions to catch up with the latest US AI models would be significantly hampered.

However, the US AI industry remains highly vigilant, concerned that excessive regulation could harm the commercial interests of American companies.