Biden Administration To Thwart AI Semiconductor Developments In China By Sanctioning “GAA” Process Technology Access

The Biden administration is now considering imposing further "AI tech" restrictions on China, which would thwart the use of the "GAA" semiconductor technology.

The US-China hostilities are at an all-time high regarding sanctions in the technology industry, and it looks like the Biden administration is determined to end the massive semiconductor developments occurring in mainland China. Bloomberg now reports that the US plans to implement measures that would restrict China's access to the "Gate-All-Around" semiconductor technology to reduce the semiconductor progress in China and ultimately refrain from gaining traction in the AI hype.

When it comes to GAA technology, it is seen as one of the vital techniques for achieving a high-end semiconductor process. It involves using a "gate electrode" along the entire channel of transistors to prevent current leakage and provide better electrostatic control. This results in a much more power-efficient result with improved heat dissipation and performance gains as well. While the GAA technology hasn't seen much adoption apart from Samsung in its 3nm GAA process and the upcoming 2nm node, the methodology is on a much-limited level for now.

With that, the US aims to cut off China's ability to progress ahead in semiconductor developments since, in relation, the nation has made some shocking strides. Huawei was reported to initiate development on a 5nm process and improve the yield rates for the existing 7nm process as well, and along with that, China's top semiconductor foundry SMIC is said to have a 5nm process already up and running without the use of EUV lithography, so there is some exciting progress in the region, which has bothered the US.

It would be interesting to see how the US proceeds with its measures to influence China's semiconductor growth, but previous instances have justified the fact that simple sanctions won't do much of a job here.