May 28, 2025 – Powerful microprocessors capable of delivering the computational power necessary to train cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) systems are inherently a “dual-use” technology–that is, useful for both civilian and military applications. The United States and like-minded countries have imposed export controls to prevent their proliferation to adversarial actors. However, malicious actors continue to exploit existing loopholes and circumvent these controls, posing threats to U.S. national security and competitiveness.
In answer to this challenge, the Institute for Security and Technology (IST), with support from Open Philanthropy, is launching an effort to investigate the root causes of compliance failure and develop a comprehensive framework for an enhanced multi-agency AI chip export controls enforcement program within the U.S. national security apparatus, and in collaboration with the requisite international partners, to close critical gaps in the AI chip supply chain.
“IST is grateful to Open Philanthropy for their support of our Export Control Compliance Initiative, which aims to identify challenges in export control enforcement for AI chips and put forward actionable recommendations to help decision makers address these challenges,” said Chief Executive Officer Philip Reiner. “This effort is crucial to ensure that these powerful processors do not end up in the hands of malicious actors–the consequences of which could be devastating.”
IST has been working at the intersection of AI and national security since 2017, covering a wide range of topics including the acceleration of multi-stakeholder coordination to mitigate emerging risks of AI; the risks and opportunities of AI integration into nuclear command, control, and communications (NC3); the implications of AI in cybersecurity; and its impact on national security and global stability. Through our Strategic Balancing Initiative, IST has also explored ways to overcome public-private misalignments in the technology development ecosystem in order to accelerate American competitiveness with the People’s Republic of China, focusing in particular on the biotech, quantum, and energy sectors.
Through our work, IST envisions a democratic world secured and empowered by technology built on trust. The work of the Export Control Compliance Initiative, by putting forward a comprehensive framework to strengthen policy enforcement mechanisms related to AI chip exports, advances this vision.