AI Chamber Comments on the Rescission of Restrictions on the Export of Semiconductors for AI Training

The AI Chamber welcomes the move announced on May 12, 2025, by the U.S. Department of Commerce (DoC). The Department of Commerce has initiated the process of repealing the “AI Diffusion Rule,” while simultaneously announcing additional steps to strengthen export controls concerning advanced semiconductors used for AI training globally.

In the issued statement, the AI Diffusion Rule, enacted on January 15, 2025, according to the Department of Commerce, could stifle American innovation and burden companies with cumbersome new regulatory requirements. It was also stated that it would undermine U.S. diplomatic relations with dozens of countries. Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security, Jeffery Kessler, stated that the new administration will pursue a bold, inclusive strategy for U.S. AI technology with trusted foreign countries worldwide, while simultaneously protecting technology from adversaries.

In our assessment, this new approach, emphasizing cooperation with trusted partners, is promising for the AI ecosystem in CEE countries and constitutes a correct shift in the policy of the previous U.S. administration. Although countries in our region currently do not utilize the limits provided for in the existing Rule, their inclusion among the countries subject to restrictions constituted a reputational blow and could lead to the relocation of innovative ventures to countries with full access to the latest technologies.

Given the planned investments in High-Performance Computing (HPC) infrastructure intended also for training AI models, and the growing involvement of companies from our region in such activities, these limits could potentially be reached in the coming years.

We believe that the announced stable and secure global AI ecosystem, supported by cooperation with trusted partners, will also bring benefits to Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the Central and Eastern Europe region. We will closely monitor the work of the Department of Commerce on new regulations in this area.