U.S. technology giant Microsoft (MSFT) has publicly called on President Trump to revise export restrictions on U.S.-made chips, arguing that current curbs could be a “strategic misstep” in the global race to lead in artificial intelligence.
In a blog post released today, Brad Smith, Microsoft’s Vice Chair and President, underscored the critical nature of this competition, stating, “A high-stakes race is underway that will determine which country will supply the technology that powers the world’s emerging AI economy.” Microsoft is concerned that the continued enforcement of the AI export restrictions, initially implemented by the Biden administration, may hinder U.S. technological advancements.
Microsoft’s concerns stem from the limitations imposed on U.S. tech companies’ capacity to build and expand AI data centers in several countries. These countries include Switzerland, Poland, Greece, Singapore, India, Israel, Indonesia, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. The regulations, put in place just prior to the end of the Biden administration in January, restrict companies like Nvidia (NVDA) and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) from selling their advanced graphics processing units (GPUs) to customers in China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. These restrictions also mean that cloud computing providers, such as Microsoft, Amazon (AMZN), and Alphabet (GOOGL), must obtain special licenses to establish data centers in countries that have limited AI chip exports.
“Customers in these countries now worry that an insufficient supply of critical American AI technology will restrict their opportunities for economic growth,” Microsoft cautioned.
The company fears that these restrictions could inadvertently provide China with a strategic advantage in spreading its own AI technology. Microsoft, which plans to invest $80 billion in building AI infrastructure globally this year, with half of that amount within the United States, emphasized that its capacity to grow at this scale relies, in part, on the ability to export its services. Their message to Trump is clear: “Eliminate the quantitative caps that would interfere with a well-functioning economic market. And keep what matters most, such as the qualitative security standards and AI use restrictions that protect national security.”
Microsoft is advocating for a balanced approach that prioritizes both economic competitiveness and national security. The company is seeking to promote its AI technology while also maintaining appropriate safeguards. How the Trump administration will respond to these concerns remains to be seen.
