Definition
Government restrictions that limit which foreign nationals or countries can access a specific AI model or system, treating powerful AI models similarly to weapons or dual-use technologies. In 2026, the US government applied export controls directly to an AI provider's access API for the first time — blocking specified foreign users from accessing the model entirely.
Why it matters
This establishes that frontier AI models are now considered strategic assets subject to national security trade law. Any company that develops or distributes powerful AI models faces a new compliance dimension: who globally is allowed to use their product.