Ahead of the May 15 announcement of the Chip Security Act, Rep. Bill Foster of Illinois discussed the pressing issue of AI chip smuggling. Following news about DeepSeek, reports have emerged of advanced AI chips being smuggled outside of the US in violation of existing export controls. To address this, Foster is reaching across the aisle with new legislation that would require chip manufacturers to incorporate location verification mechanisms within their products. This would allow datacenters to verify the presence of chips via cryptographic challenges, leveraging existing technology in chips to prevent unauthorized movements. 

Foster, Congress’ only PhD physicist, highlighted the impact of government funding freezes on scientific research, particularly at Argonne National Laboratory. He also advocated for the Keep STEM Talent Act, designed to retain top tech talent by granting permanent residency to advanced degree holders.

Finally, the discussion also touched on deepfakes and the need for secure digital identities with digital driver's licenses. Foster called for a proactive approach to safeguarding technological advancements amid evolving challenges.

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Featured experts:

• Rep. Bill Foster, D-Illinois

• Stefan Modrich, tech policy reporter for S&P Global Market Intelligence 

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• Host/Author: Mike Reynolds
• Producer/Editor: Sarah James

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