Here's a new way to think about exporting technology: instead of just selling chips or software licenses, the U.S. government wants companies to bundle up an entire artificial intelligence ecosystem and ship it overseas in a neat package. On Wednesday, the Commerce Department put out a call for proposals to do exactly that.
They're looking for American companies to collaborate and present plans for "full-stack AI technology packages" that cover everything from the hardware and data pipelines to the AI models themselves, plus security and the final applications. The idea is to deliver a complete, turnkey solution for specific markets or industries abroad. The submission window is open until June 30.
It's not just Commerce running the show. The Departments of State, Defense, Energy, and the Office of Science and Technology Policy will help evaluate the pitches. And for the companies that get selected? The government is offering to be a helpful partner, with benefits like advocacy on their behalf, federal promotion, and access to federal financing tools.
How will they pick the winners? According to a report, they won't be using a standard scoring rubric. Instead, companies will need to include a statement explaining how their proposal "advances U.S. national interests." So, it's less about checking boxes and more about making a compelling case for why your AI export package is good for America.
Exporting AI, and Sovereignty
This program is being framed around the concept of "AI sovereignty"—on U.S. terms. As countries around the world try to figure out how to control the development and use of AI within their borders, the U.S. wants to be the one setting the template that gets exported.
The effort builds on an executive order from President Donald Trump last July, which directed the government to promote AI exports by aligning diplomacy with key markets and partnerships. That order also comes with some strings attached for companies: they have to disclose where the hardware is made, who will build and operate the infrastructure (like data centers), detail their cybersecurity plans for the AI models, and identify exactly where they plan to send everything.
The Commerce Department started implementing that order back in October, and this new call for proposals is a concrete step in that direction.
The Context: A Global Race, But Is It a Sprint?
All of this is happening while everyone is talking about the global race for AI supremacy, especially between the U.S. and China. Last year, House Speaker Mike Johnson argued that the U.S. could lead, but only if the government avoids heavy-handed regulation and private industry acts as a "patriotic partner." This export initiative seems to be one answer to that call for partnership.
But not everyone is convinced the U.S. is positioned to win a straightforward race. Nvidia Corp.'s (NVDA) CEO, Jensen Huang, has suggested that China might have the edge, citing lower costs from subsidies and simpler regulations. He's argued that skepticism and increasing rules in places like the U.S. and U.K. could slow progress.
On the other side of the Pacific, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd's (BABA) Chairman Joe Tsai has offered a different perspective. He suggested that maybe the U.S. should think about AI less as a race to be won and more as a strategic, long-term endeavor. It's a philosophical split: is this a competition with a clear finish line, or a continuous effort where defining "winning" is more complex?
The U.S. government's new export push suggests it's leaning into the competitive frame, trying to bundle up its technological advantages and send them out into the world—with a clear statement of national interest attached.
