By David Shepardson and Courtney Rozen
WASHINGTON, Nov 10 (Reuters) – US lawmakers on Tuesday renewed calls for tighter restrictions on China’s access to advanced AI chips, after allegations about Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s ties to a Chinese spy intensified scrutiny of the world’s leading AI chipmaker.
The push boosts congressional efforts to strengthen export controls on a technology that is critical to AI development.
The US and China are racing to build superior AI models, and US officials for years have tried to limit China’s access to Nvidia’s chips to slow the country’s progress. Huang is accused of having a romantic relationship with a Chinese spy, according to the New York Times, prompting lawmakers to call for stronger restrictions on China’s access to the company’s chips.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer on Tuesday called on Congress to pass the AI Overwatch Act, which would give Congress power over advanced chip exports, the Chip Security Act, which would require businesses to track their chips to combat smuggling, and the Match Act, which would push US allies to restrict sending more chipmaking equipment to China.
House China Committee Chairman John Moolenaar, a Republican, said in a statement that restrictions on chip exports should be included in the US’s annual military spending bill. The sweeping legislation determines everything from how many ships, aircraft and missile systems are bought, to a pay raise for the troops, to how to address geopolitical threats.
Schumer also said Congress must have a full accounting of President Donald Trump’s defense of Huang.
“He’s supposed to protect America, not China, not his friends. Trump has been busy trying to defend Jensen Huang when he ought to be defending our national security,” Schumer said.
Trump on Monday said the FBI was looking into allegations that Huang had a relationship with a Chinese spy, and said he supports him. Huang is one of Trump’s closest allies in Silicon Valley, and the relationship between the two dates to at least 2025.
Over the past two years, Huang has repeatedly voiced support for the administration’s agenda and become a regular presence in Washington as Nvidia sought to sell advanced chips to the Chinese market. He has admitted to having an affair. Nvidia says that while its board has no reason to believe that either US national security or Nvidia secrets were compromised, its inquiry will examine all available information.
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie, who is helping shape Republicans’ AI agenda, told Reuters on Tuesday that when the FBI investigation “moves forward, I’m sure our committee is going to have to act.”
The White House and Nvidia did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the legislation.
A Senate version of the defense bill contains the legislation that Schumer and Moolenaar support.
Lawmakers also want Huang to answer their questions about the accusations about Huang’s relationship, and what Trump knew about it.
Schumer cited reports Trump was briefed on Huang’s relationship with a suspected Chinese spy a year ago and did nothing.
“One of our most important companies that is involved in national security, and the CEO might be having an affair with a Chinese spy, and Trump did nothing about it,” Schumer said.
Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego said, “Nvidia has been asking permission to sell advanced chips to China. We need to know how much the Chinese spy influenced CEO Jensen’s decision.”
(Reporting by David Shepardson and Courtney Rozen in Washington; Additional reporting by Karen Freifeld in New York and Alexandra Alper in Washington; Editing by Alistair Bell)
Comments