Part 2/11:
The story begins with the final days of the Biden administration, which introduced strict export restrictions aimed at curbing the outflow of advanced AI chips—particularly those produced by industry leader Nvidia, like the H100 and H200. These chips are often described as the "oil of the 21st century" for their critical role in AI computation. Starting immediately on May 15, 2025, a rule called the "framework for AI diffusion" goes into effect, categorized into four tiers of countries with varying levels of access:
Tier 1: The U.S. itself, with 50% of computing power mandated to stay domestic.
Tier 2: Allied nations such as the UK, Japan, and others, which can access up to 25% of high-end chips.