In a potential move to enhance Saudi Arabia's artificial intelligence capabilities, the US government is reportedly considering granting permission for Nvidia to export advanced chips to the kingdom. The chips, known as Nvidia H200s, would play a crucial role in facilitating the training and operation of powerful AI models in the country, as reported by Semafor, citing sources familiar with the matter.

The discussions regarding the sales of these chips were unofficially held at GAIN, Saudi Arabia's global AI summit. Attendees, including individuals affiliated with the Saudi Data and AI Authority, revealed that the country is actively working to comply with US security requirements, in order to expedite the acquisition of the advanced chips.

It is worth noting that the Biden administration had previously imposed strict restrictions on the export of AI chips, with the aim of limiting China's accessibility to the technology. These restrictions included a licensing requirement for the shipment of such chips to Middle Eastern countries, including the UAE. However, Saudi Arabia appears to be making notable efforts to adhere to the necessary security protocols.

The Saudi government is reportedly anticipating the delivery of Nvidia's most advanced chips, the H200s. These chips are known for their utilization in OpenAI's multimodal platform, GPT-4o, which enables realistic voice conversations and interactions across text and image. The acquisition of these chips would bolster Saudi Arabia's AI capabilities, creating potential advancements in various industries.

According to the report, while the Saudi government aims to reduce its dependency on Chinese firms, it remains open to engaging with them should the United States restrict the kingdom's access to the most advanced AI chips. The move to procure advanced chips from Nvidia demonstrates Saudi Arabia's commitment to strengthening its technological infrastructure and positioning itself as a prominent player in the global AI landscape.

Both Nvidia and the US Department of Commerce declined to comment specifically on the report. However, the US Department of Commerce emphasized that export control decisions regarding licenses and policy actions are made following a rigorous interagency process involving multiple government departments.

The potential export of Nvidia's advanced chips to Saudi Arabia represents a significant development for the kingdom's AI ambitions. As the country strives to improve its technological capabilities, the collaboration with Nvidia could provide the necessary tools to advance AI research, foster innovation, and drive economic growth in Saudi Arabia.