Exclusive: U.S. kicks off push to sell AI abroad
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The Commerce Department on Wednesday is opening a call for proposals to help U.S. companies bundle and export end-to-end AI systems to international markets.
Why it matters: The Trump administration's AI strategy is based partly on a bet that the best way to win the AI race is to embed U.S. tech deep inside other countries' digital infrastructure.
Driving the news: Starting on Wednesday, U.S. companies can submit proposals to "deliver full-stack American AI technology packages to international partners," per an announcement from Commerce. Applications are open through June 30.
- Companies approved for the program created by President Trump's executive order will be promised government financial incentives that could give them an edge in the global AI race.
What they're saying: "By promoting full-stack American solutions, we are strengthening our economic and national security, deepening ties with allies and partners, and ensuring that the future of AI is led by the United States," Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said in a statement.
- "We are turning President Trump's vision for sharing a trusted, sovereign AI stack with the world into action," Michael Kratsios, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy director, said in a statement.
The big picture: As countries push for AI sovereignty — the ability to control the use, development and regulation of AI — Commerce is positioning the AI exports program as a way to deliver that on U.S. terms, officials told Axios.
- The program is designed to be flexible, officials said, and to allow foreign partners to maintain control of their own data and infrastructure.
- They pointed to a recent deal between Reflection AI and South Korea's Shinsegae Group to build a data center as one example of how these arrangements could work.
How it works: Companies will team up to submit proposals to pitch bundled AI systems including chips, data pipelines, models and security to foreign markets.
- Commerce won't use a set scoring system or checklist to rank proposals, per a release. It will require companies to include a statement "describing how the proposal advances U.S. national interests."
- The Departments of State, Defense and Energy and OSTP will help evaluate the proposals.
- Those selected will get benefits like advocacy engagement, federal promotion and federal financing tools.
The bottom line: Officials say the goal is simple — make deals and expand U.S. AI abroad. But certain requirements and just how companies get picked are not yet clear.
- Commerce officials said they view the program as good for both American business and countries that buy the tech.
Our thought bubble: The AI Exports program aligns with Lutnick's effort to position the Commerce Department as an international dealmaker and could help the U.S. shape AI standards abroad using deals and exports, without new laws at home.
Go deeper: How Trump's planned AI exports program works
