May 16, 2025

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Nvidia AI Export Lifted, Google Cloud AI, AI Ethics Training, AI Risks

Recent developments in the field of artificial intelligence have seen significant advancements and investments. The Trump administration has rescinded limitations on exports of AI processors, lifting restrictions on companies like Nvidia from selling processors meant for AI applications to other countries. However, the US is still tightening restrictions on countries that might re-export advanced tech to Beijing, leaving Nvidia caught in the middle. Google has announced new AI and accessibility features to Android and Chrome, including updates to TalkBack and Expressive Captions. The company has also expanded its AI innovations to Google Cloud, introducing a hierarchical namespace feature in Cloud Storage and releasing the Gemini 2.0 artificial intelligence model suite. Other companies, such as Visa and Athean, are also tapping into AI to enhance their services and transform how sales teams win deals. Meanwhile, experts like Eric Schmidt are warning about the potential risks of AI, including the risk of nuclear war, and emphasizing the need for responsible development and deployment. Vietnam has launched its first AI Ethics training program, aiming to equip participants with foundational and advanced knowledge of AI ethics and foster a more responsible approach to digital transformation.

Key Takeaways

  • The Trump administration has rescinded limitations on exports of AI processors, lifting restrictions on companies like Nvidia.
  • Nvidia remains caught in the middle of US-China trade tensions, being a vital US technology leader that is too important to cut off entirely but too powerful to be left unregulated.
  • Google has announced new AI and accessibility features to Android and Chrome, including updates to TalkBack and Expressive Captions.
  • Google Cloud has introduced a hierarchical namespace feature in Cloud Storage and released the Gemini 2.0 artificial intelligence model suite.
  • Visa is tapping into AI to enhance services for its global network of customers, focusing on fraud prevention, personalization, and agentic commerce.
  • Athean has launched an AI-powered sales platform to transform how sales teams win deals.
  • Eric Schmidt is warning about the potential risks of AI, including the risk of nuclear war, and emphasizing the need for responsible development and deployment.
  • Vietnam has launched its first AI Ethics training program, aiming to equip participants with foundational and advanced knowledge of AI ethics.
  • Doji has raised $14 million in a seed round to improve its AI-powered virtual try-ons and integrate the buying process in its app.
  • Hedra has received a Series A investment to develop its character animation technology, allowing users to generate character-driven video scenes from images and audio tracks or text scripts.

Nvidia Faces New Obstacles

The Trump administration has released new AI chip restrictions targeting China, which may affect Nvidia's business. Nvidia has announced an agreement with Saudi Arabia to develop the kingdom's artificial intelligence capabilities. The company's CEO, Jensen Huang, estimates China to be a $50 billion AI chip market. However, the US is tightening restrictions on countries that might re-export advanced tech to Beijing. Nvidia remains caught in the middle, being a vital US technology leader that is too important to cut off entirely but too powerful to be left unregulated.

US Halts AI Diffusion Rule

The US Department of Commerce has slammed the brakes on the AI Diffusion Rule, which was set to go into effect on May 15. The rule would have limited the number of AI processors that could be sold to foreign countries. The Department of Commerce argues that the rule would have stifled American innovation and saddled tech firms with burdensome new regulatory requirements. The rule's rescission is intended to streamline US export controls and avoid straining US diplomatic relations.

Trump Administration Rescinds AI Chip Export Limits

The Trump administration has rescinded a limitation on exports of AI processors made in the US that was set to go into effect on May 15. The AI Diffusion Rule would have limited the number of AI processors that could be sold to foreign countries. The administration's move lifts restrictions on companies like Nvidia from selling processors meant for AI applications to other countries, including Mexico, China, and Russia.

BIS Updates Advanced Computing and AI Export Controls

The US Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security has announced four significant policy developments under the Export Administration Regulations, affecting exports, reexports, and in-country transfers of certain advanced integrated circuits and related computing items with artificial intelligence applications. The actions reflect the Trump administration's first moves to address national security risks associated with exports of emerging technologies.

Gemini AI Expands to New Devices

Google has announced that Gemini AI will become the default assistant across devices, including cars, Wear OS smartwatches, Android TVs, and future Android XR devices. Gemini AI will allow users to speak naturally and ask the AI to handle specific tasks, such as sending messages or recommending places nearby. The AI will also be able to pull information from other Google apps, such as Gmail and YouTube Music.

Google Rolls Out New AI and Accessibility Features

Google has announced new AI and accessibility features to Android and Chrome, including updates to TalkBack, Android's screen reader, and Expressive Captions, Android's real-time captions feature. The features aim to improve accessibility and provide more personalized experiences for users. Google has also made it easier to access PDFs on Chrome, allowing users to highlight, copy, and search for text like any other page.

Optimizing Content for Google's AI Innovations

Google's integration of AI can bring great value for retailers prepared to make the necessary tweaks to how new and existing content is displayed, tagged, and marked up. Retailers can optimize their content to connect it to results within Overview summaries and land more highly qualified leads. This requires changes in how content is presented, including using high-definition images with additional schema markup and clear descriptors on materials, performance features, and usage.

Google Cloud Expands AI and ML Innovations

Google Cloud has introduced a hierarchical namespace feature in Cloud Storage, aiming to optimize AI and machine learning workloads by improving data organization, performance, and reliability. The company has also released the Gemini 2.0 artificial intelligence model suite, which includes 2.0 Flash, optimized for high-volume tasks, and 2.0 Pro Experimental for enhanced coding performance. Google Cloud is also partnering with companies like Seattle Children's Hospital to develop AI-powered tools.

Athean Launches AI-Powered Sales Platform

Athean, a new AI-driven prospecting and engagement platform, has launched to transform how sales teams win deals. The platform centralizes the entire sales ecosystem into one intelligent platform, streamlining workflows and surfacing actionable insights. Athean's AI models arm reps with actionable insights into their accounts, and sales engagement can be managed directly in the platform.

Visa Enhances Payments with AI

Visa is tapping into AI to enhance services for its global network of customers, focusing on fraud prevention, personalization, and agentic commerce. The company prevents $40 billion in fraud annually and is working to improve transaction predictions and deliver smarter, more relevant offers and recommendations to cardholders. Visa is also exploring the use of AI agents to help customers with payments.

Doji Raises $14M for AI-Powered Virtual Try-Ons

Doji, a startup that creates AI-powered virtual try-ons, has raised $14 million in a seed round led by Thrive Capital. The company's app allows users to create a personalized avatar and try on different clothes, with plans to improve the virtual try-on process and integrate the buying process in the app. Doji's technology uses diffusion models to create realistic and photo-realistic avatars.

Eric Schmidt Discusses AI and Nuclear War

Eric Schmidt, former Google chairman, has discussed the potential risks and benefits of AI, including the risk of nuclear war. Schmidt argues that AI can improve productivity and enhance human life, but also poses significant risks if not developed and deployed responsibly. He warns that the race for AI dominance could lead to a scenario where a hypothetical bad guy stops at nothing to thwart the good guy's lead, even if it means bombing data centers.

Investing in Hedra for AI-Powered Video

Hedra, an AI video company, has received a Series A investment to develop its character animation technology. The company's platform allows users to generate a character-driven video scene from an image and audio track or text script, with realistic lip syncing, facial emotions, and background animations. Hedra's technology has the potential to open up visual storytelling to a wider audience and provide a tool for narrative filmmakers to try out new ideas.

Vietnam Launches AI Ethics Training Program

Vietnam has launched its first AI Ethics training program, jointly organized by the US Embassy in Hanoi and the ABAII Academy of Blockchain and AI Innovation. The program aims to equip participants with foundational and advanced knowledge of AI ethics, fostering a more responsible approach to digital transformation. The program brought together a diverse group of participants, including government officials, technology professionals, and researchers.

Sources

AI Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Deep Learning Nvidia Google AI AI Ethics AI Regulations Export Controls AI Chip Market AI Processors Gemini AI AI-Powered Sales Platform AI-Powered Virtual Try-Ons AI Video AI Ethics Training Digital Transformation