Washington launches export initiative to ensure ‘future of AI is led by the United States’
Chinese competitors targeted as US companies invited to form consortiums to offer full-stack AI solutions around the world
The US government has unveiled an AI export initiative designed to cement American technological leadership while countering China’s growing influence in the sector.
Washington is inviting US companies to form “preset” consortiums to offer full-stack artificial intelligence solutions around the world. Applications will be accepted until the end of June, the International Trade Administration (ITA), an agency under the US Department of Commerce, said in a news release issued on Wednesday.
The release said “export packages” – comprising hardware, data pipelines, foundational models, cybersecurity, and industry-specific applications – will be promoted globally with the full weight of US diplomatic and financial backing.
A 15-page ITA document inviting the submission of proposals outlined stringent “national interest” requirements, stipulating that anchor members of any consortium must be US-incorporated and free from the control of “countries of concern”.
Moreover, consortium participants, including subcontractors and local partners, should not be from or controlled by “countries of concern”.
The document did not explicitly name such nations, but deferred to the definition in the 2026 National Defence Authorisation Act, which included China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia and Venezuela.
Among the listed countries, only China is viewed as a primary competitor to the US in the AI field.