US announces AI software export restrictions

guest · Jan 5, 2020

US announces AI software export restrictions
A narrow ban targeting AI tools that analyze satellite imagery
January 5, 2020
https://www.theverge.com/2020/1/5/21050508/us-export-ban-ai-software-china-geospatial-analysis

The US will impose new restrictions on the export of certain AI programs overseas, including to rival China.

The ban, which comes into force on Monday, is the first to be applied under a 2018 law known as the Export Control Reform Act or ECRA. This requires the government to examine how it can restrict the export of “emerging” technologies “essential to the national security of the United States” — including AI. News of the ban was first reported by Reuters.

But the new export ban is extremely narrow. It applies only to software that uses neural networks (a key component in machine learning) to discover “points of interest” in geospatial imagery; things like houses or vehicles.
Reuters reports that companies will have to apply for licenses to export such software apart from when it is being sold to Canada.
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Although certain programs may be restricted, it’s often the case that the underlying research is freely available online, allowing engineers to recreate any software for themselves.

Reuters notes that although the restriction will only affect US exports, American authorities could try and encourage other countries to follow suit, as they have with restrictions on Huawei’s 5G technology. Future export bans could also affect more types of AI software.
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