A growing bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers is seeking answers from the Biden administration about its strategies to counter China’s increasing adoption of RISC-V chip design technology.
The move comes in the wake of concerns raised last month regarding China’s usage of this open-source technology, which has been viewed as a potential national security threat.
Biden’s Approach to RISC-V in China
RISC-V, often pronounced as risk five, is an open-source technology that offers an alternative to the proprietary solutions provided by British semiconductor and software design firm Arm Holdings and tech giant Intel. Its versatility allows it to be applied in various applications, from smartphone chips to advanced processors for artificial intelligence.
Major U.S. tech companies like Qualcomm and Google have embraced RISC-V, recognizing its potential. However, its adoption is not limited to American firms, as many Chinese companies have also integrated this technology into their operations.
The worries about China’s utilization of RISC-V arise because it doesn’t fall under the existing U.S. export controls for chip technology transfers to China. In the previous month, it was reported that at least four influential U.S. lawmakers expressed concerns about this security threat.
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Export License Mandates for RISC-V Collaboration
Now, a broader group of 18 lawmakers, including both Republicans and Democrats, is pressing the Biden administration for a clear plan to prevent China from achieving dominance in RISC-V technology. Their concern is that this dominance could be exploited to the detriment of U.S. national and economic security.
The lawmakers have also inquired about the possibility of applying existing executive orders to mandate export licenses for U.S. companies collaborating with Chinese entities on RISC-V technology.
While the potential benefits of open-source collaboration on RISC-V are substantial, the lawmakers emphasize the importance of ensuring that such cooperation serves the sole purpose of improving the technology, rather than furthering the technological goals and geopolitical interests of China.
The Commerce Department has acknowledged the letter and stated that Secretary Gina Raimondo will respond through the appropriate channels. The responses to these inquiries will be eagerly anticipated as the U.S. seeks to navigate the evolving landscape of semiconductor technology and its strategic implications.
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