Biden’s administration was once again under criticism from lawmakers after Chinese tech giant Huawei released a new laptop model that is powered by the latest Intel chip set. Huawei is on a trade restriction list after the United States accused it of relations with Iran and violation based on these very links in 2019. True or not, but it’s a part of the wide ranging campaign to restrict China’s progress in developing the latest telecommunication technology.
US vendors and suppliers are bound to obtain a special license, which is often too difficult to get approval for, before dealing with any company placed on the trade restriction list. Back in 2020, the Trump administration gave a license to Intel, approving the supply of central processors to Huawei for their laptop manufacturing. Skeptics have pressurized the Biden government for the annulment of that license, but many have accepted the continuity, arguing it will expire this year and renewal will not be granted.
Huawei launches laptop with AI capabilities
On Thursday this week, Huawei launched its first AI capable laptop, the Matebook X Pro, featuring Intel’s Core Ultra 9 processor, sending shockwaves through the US power corridors as lawmakers were angry and got the impression that the latest US tech in the form of new silicon chips was approved by the Commerce Department for Huawei. Elise Stefanike, a Republican Representative, wrote on his handle on the X platform that it (the laptop) “makes it clear” that the Commerce Department’s approval is the reason Huawei got the new chip. She said,
“It is unacceptable that the Biden administration is actively working to undermine US national security by allowing our greatest strategic adversary access to cutting edge American technology.”
The commerce department has not yet given any clarification on the matter. According to Reuters, another Republican rep, Michael McCaul, also said in an email,
“These approvals must stop.”
Source: Reuters.
He also said,
“Two years ago, I was told licenses to Huawei would stop. Today, it doesn’t seem as though the policy has changed.”
Source: Reuters.
How Americans look at AI in general?
When it comes to AI usage in daily life, American people are considered to be more concerned than excited about AI, as Pew research shows that a large chunk of American people, amounting to 37 percent of adults, are more concerned as compared to only 18 percent who are more excited. while a majority of 45 percent are equally concerned and excited.
44 percent of American adults think that driverless passenger cars are a bad idea, while 31 percent think social media companies utilizing artificial intelligence to detect disinformation is also not a good idea. Many Americans also don’t like the idea of facial recognition technology used by police, well this can be a debatable topic, impinging on privacy concerns.
How has AI affected American politics?
Looking at the deep rooted causes that fuel the animosity, the American desire to trim down China’s emerging position as a global player and to restrict its advancements made in the technological field. If we recall the time when Huawei was placed on the trade restrictions list, that was the time when China announced its launch of 5G technology for the masses, and there was a rage in US politics for them to win the race against the US.
America also issued warnings when Asian countries, mostly allied to the US, joined Huawei to launch 5G networks in their countries. Thailand, the Philippines, and Malaysia were some prominent players who ignored the US warnings of possible security risks associated with it. As Voice of America reported back in the day, some former military personnel were hinting at the potential that 5G with a larger bandwidth will be quite effective for military use and the fact that the US will not be able to use the networks that are tied to Chinese firms in the US allied territories in Asia and Europe. I think it makes it quite clear.
Recent steps taken by the US to sideline China from obtaining the latest silicon chips are all part of a broader campaign where the US is restricting its vendors like Nvidia from dealing with Chinese firms and pressurizing companies and investors around the globe to not participate in Chinese artificial intelligence ventures. As recently, the UAE based G42 investments group backed off from its commitments with Chinese firms to applause the US.