CSET

Scoping AI for National Security: An Impossible Task?

August 28, 2023

On August 9, 2023 the Biden administration announced an executive order to restrict certain U.S. investments in China’s key technology sectors, including artificial intelligence. This blog post proposes implementing investment restrictions related to AI for national security using a list-based end-user approach that builds upon existing list-based tools.

In an op-ed featured in Barron's, CSET's Emily S. Weinstein discusses the recent proposed regulations by the Biden administration to restrict U.S. investments in critical technology sectors in China. The regulations target advancements in semiconductors, microelectronics, quantum technologies, and AI systems, with concerns about potential military applications benefiting adversaries like China.

Drawing from prior CSET research, this blog post describes different domestic and international initiatives the Chinese government and companies are pursuing to shore up investment in AI and meet China’s strategic objectives, as well as indicators to track their future trajectories.

Existing U.S. government tools and approaches may help mitigate some of the issues worrying AI observers. This blog post describes long-standing “catch-all” controls, administered by the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), and how they might be used to address some of these threats.

U.S. policymakers are increasingly concerned about the national security implications of U.S. investments in China, and some are considering a new regime for reviewing outbound investment security. The authors identify the main U.S. investors active in the Chinese artificial intelligence market and the set of AI companies in China that have benefitted from U.S. capital. They also recommend next steps for U.S. policymakers to better address the concerns over capital flowing into the Chinese AI ecosystem.