US delays NVIDIA and AMD AI chip exports to the Middle East

US officials have reportedly slowed down the issuance of licenses for chip manufacturers NVIDIA and AMD to export AI accelerators to the Middle East, citing national security concerns.

Bloomberg reports that the delay is part of a broader assessment of AI developments in the region, with a focus on large-scale sales to countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

The move aims to give Washington time to formulate a comprehensive strategy on deploying advanced chips overseas, particularly in facilities used to train AI models.

The US Department of Commerce emphasised the importance of protecting national security while remaining committed to global partnerships in safeguarding technological ecosystems.

Earlier this month, the US government also revoked licenses of Intel and Qualcomm to supply semiconductor chips to Huawei, citing similar national security concerns.