In the US, a bill is on the table to make GPUs and other electronics mandatorily traceable, to prevent them from falling into the hands of unauthorized countries such as China.
According to the proposal, chip manufacturers would be required to build tracking technology into AI processors and graphics cards, writes Tom’s Hardware. This would allow for tracking the location of the hardware after export. This proposal from an American congressman was quickly followed by a new bill. It covers much more than just AI processors.
Big Brother
The latest proposal calls for tracking various devices, including AI servers, AI processors, HPC servers, high-end graphics cards such as Nvidia’s RTX 4090 GPUs, and general electronics that could potentially be used for military purposes. Exporters must be able to demonstrate the physical location of the products at any time and must report any deviations.
If the law is approved, chip developers will have only six months after implementation to comply. This only leads to longer production processes. It could take several years to fully comply with the law, depending on what is required.
Fortunately, not everything needs to be made open and traceable. The traceability must be designed in such a way that all business information and trade secrets remain secure. American developers like AMD and Nvidia are protected so that competitiveness is not compromised.