China rejects claims of malicious AI competition after Anthropic CEO urges slowdown

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced Tuesday that it will implement a set of export controls on advanced artificial‑intelligence models, a move that aligns with recent calls from Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei for a deliberate slowdown in AI development. The new regulations, which restrict the transfer of models exceeding a defined capability threshold to foreign entities, are intended to mitigate the risk of rapid, unchecked AI advancement while preserving national security interests. Amodei’s public remarks earlier this month urged industry leaders to adopt “responsible pacing” to address safety concerns, and the Commerce Department’s action marks the first federal response that translates those concerns into concrete policy.

Officials said the controls are also designed to prevent China from gaining a strategic advantage in the AI race by limiting its access to cutting‑edge technologies developed by American firms. The rules will apply to both hardware and software components that enable large‑scale model training, and companies seeking to export such technologies will be required to obtain licenses subject to rigorous review. Industry groups have been given a 60‑day comment period to provide feedback before the measures take effect later this year. The administration emphasizes that the approach seeks a balance between fostering innovation domestically and curbing the proliferation of potentially hazardous AI capabilities abroad.