export licenses

Microsoft has secured US export licenses to ship Nvidia chips, including potentially next-generation GPUs, to the UAE, boosting the nation’s AI ambitions. The approval, granted by the US Commerce Department, is subject to stringent technology safeguards. This allows Microsoft to provide access to advanced AI models from OpenAI, Anthropic, and others. The agreement includes substantial investments, like $1.5 billion in AI firm G42, solidifying Microsoft’s commitment to the UAE and its AI development. Nvidia shares saw a rise following the announcement.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang will reportedly join President Trump on a state visit to the U.K., potentially alongside other tech leaders. This follows Nvidia’s increased engagement with the Trump administration amidst concerns about access to the Chinese market for its AI chips. Huang emphasizes that allowing Nvidia to export to China will bolster U.S. AI dominance and national security. Nvidia is seeking licenses to sell its Blackwell series chips to China, making the U.K. visit a potentially crucial opportunity for negotiations. The company anticipates selling up to $5 billion of H20 chips this quarter, depending on geopolitics.

The U.S. government has authorized General Electric Aviation to resume supplying jet engines to China’s COMAC. This decision, alongside the reinstatement of other export licenses, signals a potential easing of trade tensions between the U.S. and China. These moves follow earlier U.S. restrictions on critical technologies, including those for jet engines, in response to Chinese export controls.