US restricts Switzerland’s access to AI chips

https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/multinational-companies/us-restricts-switzerlands-access-to-ai-chips/88781270?utm_source=multiple&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=news_en&utm_content=o&utm_term=wpblock_highlighted-compact-news-carousel

44 comments

  1. Article:

    >__Switzerland is excluded by the US from the allied countries for unlimited access to chips required for artificial intelligence.__

    >The US recently changed the rules for the export of products related to artificial intelligence. Only countries that are considered allies are now allowed to access these computer chips. And Switzerland is not one of them.

    >Only 18 countries are considered trustworthy allies in the USA, including France, Germany and Japan. According to Washington, these nations are worthy of unrestricted access to these very powerful computer chips, which are manufactured exclusively by US companies.

    >This new regulation will come into force in four months. After that, Switzerland will still be able to import these chips, but will be subject to a limited quota in the coming years.

    >__Switzerland’s dependence__

    >Experts are already expressing their concerns, as these chips are used extensively in academic research as well as by many companies.

    >These technologies are already present in many areas and will be omnipresent in the coming months to years, says Olga Baranova on RTS television in French-speaking Switzerland. She is Secretary General of the CH++ association, a citizens’ lobby to strengthen scientific and technological expertise in politics.

    >Baranova also points out that the USA largely dominates the market, which makes alternative supply difficult.

    >__Blocking rival countries__

    >It is not entirely clear why Switzerland is not one of the allied countries. The official US Department of Commerce document lists those countries they trust to protect their technology and have no restrictions. However, no individual statements were made regarding the excluded countries.

    >Nevertheless, it seems clear that the main aim of this regulation is to deny rival countries, especially China, access to this cutting-edge technology. The US is not only trying to curb exports, but also to prevent Chinese companies from circumventing the restrictions by setting up subsidiaries abroad.

    >Olga Baranova is therefore calling on the Swiss government to show the US that Switzerland meets the criteria to be considered a trustworthy partner. “It is clearly up to Switzerland to demonstrate its reliability and provide the US with additional guarantees.”

    >The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco) is currently analyzing the document and its potential impact on companies and research institutions. According to Seco, discussions have already begun with the US authorities to ensure that this regulation does not hinder research or innovation in Switzerland.

    >Seco also points out that Switzerland is home to US companies and their research centers that make heavy use of these chips, such as Google.

  2. Time for Switzerland to become 100 % transparent about all US assets held by swiss banks.

  3. Except they are not excluded, they will be limited in the numbers they can buy. Why does the headline differ from the article like that?

  4. From another article:

    [Biden administration imposes restrictions on AI chip sales](https://thehill.com/policy/technology/5082501-biden-administration-restricts-ai-chips-sale/)

    “Those that are not U.S. allies would be permitted to purchase up to 50,000 advanced graphics processing units (GPUs), although this number could be doubled through government-to-government arrangements. 

    Individual entities would also be able to apply for a special status to purchase up to 320,000 advanced GPUs in order to facilitate the construction of data centers. 

    Allied countries are exempt from the licensing requirements. These include Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, the Republic of Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. 

    Smaller shipments of up to 1,700 advanced GPUs would also not require licenses and would not count toward country’s chip caps. 

    The rule was immediately slammed by the semiconductor and chips industry. Nvidia, a top producer of advanced GPUs, called the framework “unprecedented and misguided” and warned it could “derail innovation and economic growth worldwide.”

  5. Hey Switzerland remember that time you’d wouldn’t allow Germany and other NATO states from donating ammunition they bought from you to Ukraine- pay back is a bitch.

  6. Switzerland being left out feels like when you realize you weren’t invited to a party you didn’t even know was happening.

  7. Switzerland does lot of shady stuff from enabling tax evasion to hiding criminal money nevermind the BS with the ammo for ukraine, so I think this is totally deserved, if somewhat surprising.

  8. Well, Switzerland can be independent and neutral. The downside is that doing so also comes with costs.

  9. Good.

    Switzerland is the parasite of Europe. Leeching on the European infrastructure and security while building their whole country around the tax evasion of wealthy Europeans. On top of that, they are the global safe haven for any warlord, dictator and shady criminal.

    They should be cut off from any modern western technology

  10. Are we talking commercially available chips like Nvidia’s Blackwell? Not sure what would stop Switzerland from buying them from another country that US doesn’t restrict exports to.

  11. Not to say that I’m particularly fond of the Swiss when it comes to politics, but they’re pretty ok people and have done priceless research at CERN and with the LHC in particular.

    Like, holy shit give them every GPU they need to expand their physics simulations!

  12. Perhaps Switzerland should exclude US from holding any accounts in Swiss banks.

  13. Serious question – wtf is an “AI” chip ?

    Mind you I’m a EE and have worked in semi for decades.

    Politicians put these labels on stuff and dont know wtf they’re talking about.

  14. I’m telling ya, any enemies this new administration will make, the Chinese will step in and build a better relationship with.

  16. Clearly a tactical choice to protect US companies. Switzerland is the defacto leader in robotics and biotech in the EU and AI represents a pivotal shift toward those industries expanding quickly. This is a trade war and a protectionist agenda. This is very strange times.

  17. I’m not Swiss but I’m surprised how nasty some of the comments are. I expected more empathy after putin and trump.I guess it’s the nature of social media.

    It’s OK my Swiss bros, you’ll probably get a G2G deal after Trump takes his pound of flesh.

  18. The Swiss won’t allow their arms to be sent to Ukraine for their fight for survival, can’t be surprised when it happens to you

  20. Excellent move, the world is not ready for the horrors of AI yodeling, tobleroning, and cuckoo clocks

  21. The restrictions are weird because part of chips are being developed and tested in countries which are also being restricted.

    Also china have been buying massive amount of GPUs through shell companies and other options. I’m sure with the 1700 non counting purcahses, they will just buy under that limit through dozens of companies just to stay under the radar.

    I doubt this is really going to make a difference.

  24. Switzerland because Donald does not like neutrality. Rump wants only those loyal to him.

  25. Not surprising and tbh not as controversial as other recent actions (still not exactly a winning policy). The US restricts trade of sensitive tech (esp tech with military applications) with any country that has tech sharing or is thought to be a risk to sharing tech with China.

    Will this do anything for the US – Swiss relationship? No. Can it be leveraged? Maybe. US has a $38 billion goods deficit with Switzerland. Its possible that Trump admin will request US market access (particularly for Ag goods) and an agreement that Swiss do not trade these chips or other at risk techs to China / other countries of concern in return for resumption of exports.

    Coercion? Yes, it is, 100%.

    Furthers US grand strategy against China? Kind of.

    Will it make a difference in the US-Swiss trade deficit? Probably not a large one, but one Trump can claim he got if he gets it.

  26. I like how US is actively pushing other countries to do business with China.

  27. I mean with the Swiss preventing German military equipment from being used in Ukraine because they made some of the bullets in their own country I can’t image what they would try and say we could or couldn’t do with their products. This seems like an earned position for the Swiss.

    Plus them straight up decommissions anti aircraft gear and destroying it instead of donation to a country that could use it. It just shows the side the Swiss are on

  28. So Switzerland can have the F35 but not those chips? Doesn’t really make sense if it’s about protecting the confidentiality of technology.

  30. Trump just wants them to stick to making high-end, luxury watches.

    To be fair, it’s what they’re good at.

  31. So Switzerland will need to pay a little more for the chips to get around this…..Don’t think they care too much 

  32. Trump must have watched the Lockerbie series this weekend

  34. They sure no more need any guarantees about neutrality

  35. Awwww yes. The United States continues to mend relationships and build bridges.

    This isn’t going to end well…

  38. I’m ok with this honestly. If you want to pretend to be “neutral” then you should get treated as neutral.

  41. Knowing Swiss people, expect a swiss made chip, ETH is superb.

  42. Will this really work? I mean, what is stopping Switzerland companies or universities from just going to France or Germany and buying their chips there?

  43. To be honest, it’s a good thing, otherwise it wouldn’t be too long until Wintermute is calling the shots.

  44. Am I the only one that thinks that ms. Baranova may be not quite Swiss and it’s a problem.
    Switzerland is quite famous for catering to the Russian oligarchs and it is quite possible that Swiss administration is riddled with Russian assets

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