The U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council hosted a conversation in Dubai on Friday, May 17, 2024 with Thea D. Rozman Kendler, Assistant Secretary for Export Administration at the U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). The Business Council’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Task Force Digital Policy Working Group convened the discussion built upon dialogue from previous AI Task Force meetings held in Dubai in February 2024 and Washington, D.C. in April 2024.
Assistant Secretary Kendler stressed that protecting AI technologies and making sure they are used for the benefit of society and not for malign activities is critical to the Bureau’s mission. BIS’s focus on AI is driven by national security and foreign policy concerns, primarily a U.S. desire to impede China’s ability to acquire and utilize the United States’ most sophisticated AI-related technologies. She noted that BIS endeavors to be as targeted and tailored as possible in its regulatory approach because it understands the importance of this technology for commerce, trade, and innovation more broadly.
Assistant Secretary Kendler remarked that policy and regulation will continue to change as AI technology and associated threats evolve. She encouraged industry to engage with BIS about their needs, not just now but as they might envision their needs four years from now, and said BIS wants to be forward looking in working with companies. She noted that BIS has an officer at the Consulate in Dubai covering regional export control matters and encouraged companies to consult him on license requests.
During the Q&A with the Assistant Secretary, industry pressed to shorten the timelines for the review process and asked how they could be more precise in providing necessary information early on in the license request/review process. Previous statements by Assistant Secretary Kendler regarding BIS goals and intent, procedures, and targets for protecting critical controlled technologies can be found here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EvUOwx8mHoo. And, the BIS how to video is included here: https://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/about-bis/newsroom/2082.
Assistant Secretary Kendler told industry representatives that she is hopeful about the state of bilateral strategic technology cooperation with the U.A.E. and is “bullish” about the potential for future collaboration. She sees enormous potential in technology and innovation based on “good conversations” between U.S. and U.A.E. government officials. Finally, she remarked that the U.A.E. has been ahead of the region in implementing export controls.
For questions about the Business Council’s work in the technology sector and the Business Council’s AI Task Force, please contact Amira Siddiqi at asiddiqi@usuaebusiness.org.
