The US government's latest move to restrict exports of advanced AI chips, specifically Nvidia's H20 and similar bandwidth products, to China feels like slamming the door on a global collaboration that was just starting to get interesting. We get the rationale for national and economic security. Are we really investing in our future or are we simply granting China a free pass to lead the world in AI?

Whose Innovation Are We Stifling?

Let's be clear: this isn't just about Nvidia's bottom line, though the projected $5.5 billion hit is nothing to sneeze at. This is inspired by the cascading impact across the whole AI ecosystem. Now think of the researchers and developers who rely on these chips. They are the entrepreneurs and dreamers taking risks and bending the arc of technology to make the impossible seem inevitable.

I think back to a conversation I had with a young researcher from a university in Malaysia last year. Her team had been working on a project to identify crop diseases in real time, leveraging satellite imagery and machine learning. Access to this kind of powerful processing was key but as it turns out, already a big hurdle. These types of export controls not only slow down their work, they have the potential to completely stop it in its tracks. Are we really saying that defending our national security means preventing developing countries from innovating? In doing so, this innovation will put real food — nutritious food — literally at people’s fingertips.

It's easy to get caught up in the geopolitical chess game, but we can't forget the human cost. We are not just blocking China from winning—we’re blocking the developing world from gaining access to much better technology. This is contrary to the philosophy of open-source AI.

A World Divided by Digital Walls?

The danger on the other side is that we end up with a completely disjointed AI ecosystem. A world where innovation is siloed, where researchers in different countries can't easily collaborate, and where the benefits of AI are not shared equitably.

This is doubly worrying because it weighs most heavily on researchers and developers in developing countries. In the absence of support, they’re at a disadvantage to their peers from richer countries. Restricting access to advanced AI chips will only widen the digital divide and hinder their ability to address local challenges. I’m referring to those attacks on AI that would use these technologies to predict natural disasters, improve healthcare access in rural communities, and help create sustainable agriculture practices.

  • International Collaborations Jeopardized: Blocking access to critical components can damage international research projects.
  • Widening Digital Divide: Developing countries may be left behind in the AI race.

It’s akin to constructing a 25-foot-enclosure wall around a fruit-and-vegetable garden and then demanding that all our produce grow outside of it. Instead, we ought to be fostering a healthy global ecosystem in which all can participate.

Ethical AI or Technological Apartheid?

The government’s concern that this technology could be misused is completely valid. At the same time, we must remain on guard against AI being used for ill against democracy. Limiting access to technology is not the solution. It’s a dangerous figurative hammer that flattens everyone, including builders who are hard at work deploying AI responsibly.

Instead of erecting barriers, we need to be creating connections. We should lead the way for more international, cooperative development of ethical standards to guide AI development and deployment. As state and federal AI governance frameworks emerge, we need to advocate for community-driven governance models that provide checks on AI returning the public benefit to the public.

Moreover, open-source AI projects are critical. These initiatives democratize AI technology and make it accessible to all. Most importantly, they provide the ability to empower people and organizations to build AI solutions customized to their specific needs. As a theater community, we should all coalesce around these attempts. Join us in ensuring that AI works for all of us, not just those who already have the power.

Let’s face it, at the end of the day simply preaching ethical AI isn’t enough. It is time for us to start walking the talk—to match our words and intentions with actions. Ideally, the US government would invest in counter initiatives that support and encourage responsible AI development and deployment in the US and around the world.

China's Next Great Leap Forward?

The irony here is that these export controls may actually accelerate China's efforts to develop its own advanced AI chips. That old saying, “Necessity is the mother of invention”? When you deny a country access to something, it tends to spur them to develop their own capabilities. Nvidia is earmarking more than one million square feet of factories in Arizona and Texas to produce Blackwell chips and AI supercomputers the world over. They’re making an unprecedented commitment of $500 billion towards AI infrastructure in the next four years. China will innovate, too.

Consider the emergence of DeepSeek AI. That’s a pretty big deal — I mean, that’s a huge indicator that China’s AI capabilities are growing at an incredibly fast pace. Here’s why blocking access to Nvidia’s chips is a bad idea. Ironically, this move may provide China with just the impetus it needs to surpass the U.S. in the global AI hardware market.

The question is: Are we prepared for a world where China dominates the AI landscape? A world where the values and principles that inform AI development are instead influenced by a different set of priorities?

Time To Act: Support Open AI

This is not a prescription to reject national security. It's a call to think more strategically. Innovation is an inherently international endeavor that depends on global collaboration and exchange. We need to recognize that cutting off access to technology is not a long-term fix.

The future of AI is not predetermined. It's up to us to shape it. Here’s hoping we can all picture a future where AI is making the world a better place. Together, we can empower all of us and create a more equitable world. Let’s not give China the keys to a technological wonderland built on crushed innovation. Together, let’s create a future where everyone—especially communities of color—has an equitable seat at the table.

  • Support open-source AI initiatives: Contribute to projects that are democratizing access to AI technology.
  • Advocate for ethical guidelines: Demand that policymakers develop clear and enforceable ethical guidelines for AI development and deployment.
  • Demand greater transparency: Hold policymakers accountable for their decisions regarding export controls and other AI-related policies.

The future of AI is not predetermined. It's up to us to shape it. Let's choose a future where AI is used to solve global challenges, to empower individuals, and to create a more equitable world. Let's not hand China the keys to a technological kingdom built on stifled innovation. Let's build a future where everyone has a seat at the table.