OpenAI told members of Congress this week it will support three bills to tighten US chip export controls on China, according to Bloomberg. The bills would freeze for at least 18 months the rules on which Nvidia chips China can buy, require chips to carry a mechanism that prevents smuggling, and restrict the chipmaking tools China can purchase, and lawmakers want to attach all three to the defense bill that has to pass by year’s end. Their chances improved after Jensen Huang’s exit as Nvidia CEO on Thursday removed one of the loudest opponents of stricter controls, though OpenAI had been weighing its support for months before the scandal broke. Nvidia’s trade group allies are lobbying against the bills, and Trump could still threaten a veto to protect the trade truce with China.
