Overview

• The U.S. Commerce Department officially rescinded Biden-era AI export restrictions on May 13, shifting to a country-specific, transactional approach to trade diplomacy.
• Nvidia will supply 18,000 advanced Blackwell GB300 AI chips to Saudi Arabia's Humain, with plans to expand deliveries to hundreds of thousands over five years.
• AMD announced a $10 billion joint venture with Humain to develop AI data centers in Saudi Arabia and the U.S., while AWS committed $5 billion to create an 'AI Zone' in the kingdom.
• These tech agreements coincide with Saudi Arabia's $600 billion investment pledge in the U.S. and a $142 billion arms deal, solidifying economic and strategic ties.
• Critics warn of risks tied to exporting state-of-the-art AI technology to authoritarian regimes, citing potential intellectual property leaks and geopolitical implications.