The US Senate wants to start tracking AI chips to restrict Chinese access

In a move to further restrict China's access to advanced artificial intelligence technology, a US senator has introduced a bill mandating the tracking of export-controlled AI chips. The "Chip Security Act," proposed by Republican Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas, seeks to equip these high-performance semiconductors and products containing them with location verification mechanisms.

“With these enhanced security measures, we can continue to expand access to US technology without compromising our national security,” Cotton said in a statement.

The bill would direct the Commerce Department to implement these tracking requirements for all export-controlled AI chips. This would then enable the US to detect when hardware is tampered with or diverted from its intended destination. Exporters would also be required to notify the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) of any such incidents.

The push comes as lawmakers grow increasingly concerned about reports that chips from US companies, particularly Nvidia, are being illicitly funneled into China. This is despite export bans aimed at curbing Beijing’s military AI ambitions.

Meanwhile, Democratic Representative Bill Foster of Illinois is also reportedly preparing a similar proposal, signaling that AI chip security could soon become a bipartisan effort in Congress.

US export controls have already limited shipments of Nvidia's high-end GPUs like the A100 and H100 to China. However, enforcement remains difficult, and leaks through resellers and global supply chains are widely acknowledged. The new legislation seeks to plug these gaps with hardwired solutions.

Whether the tracking mandate will be technically feasible or welcomed by US chipmakers remains to be seen.