Nvidia CEO discusses chip and AI controls with Trump

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said Wednesday he met President Donald Trump to discuss U.S. restrictions on exporting advanced artificial intelligence chips. The meeting came as lawmakers reviewed a proposal that would require chipmakers to prioritize domestic buyers before shipping products to countries such as China.

Huang said he supported export controls and noted that U.S. companies should have early access to the most capable chips. Lawmakers had considered adding the Guaranteeing Access and Innovation for National Artificial Intelligence Act to the National Defense Authorization Act. The measure would apply to chipmakers including Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices.

The proposal is not expected to be included in the defense bill. Huang said dropping the measure was a “wise” decision and argued the GAIN AI Act would be more damaging to the United States than other past proposals.

Huang also warned against state-level rules for artificial intelligence. He said differing state requirements would slow development and raise national security risks. He called federal regulation the “wisest” approach.

Tech companies have opposed state-by-state AI laws. The debate has prompted the AI industry to support a political action committee called Leading the Future.

Trump recently urged lawmakers to add language to the defense bill that would override state AI laws and set a single federal standard. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said Tuesday the proposal lacked enough support to advance. He said lawmakers would continue efforts to establish a uniform national framework for AI.