WASHINGTON, D.C. — Arvind Krishna, IBM Chairman and CEO, urged the Trump Administration on Wednesday to ease export restrictions on advanced American artificial intelligence systems for trusted partner nations, warning that competitors could otherwise gain access to capabilities that U.S. allies are prevented from adopting.
Speaking at a White House technology roundtable with President Donald Trump, Krishna stressed that India’s rapidly expanding AI ecosystem — reliant on U.S. hardware, software and cloud infrastructure — is among the countries affected by current limitations. Seated next to the president in the Roosevelt Room, he argued that Washington must enable friendly nations to deploy the full American AI stack.
“It’s incredibly important that under the action plans that you have laid out… we really help promote the AI stack, which is not semiconductors only. Those are incredibly important. But semiconductors, it’s software, it’s the systems which many of us here build, and it is the software applications on top,” Krishna said.
He explained that U.S. export controls, particularly those linked to regulated semiconductor components, are hindering companies from providing AI platforms in allied markets. “The ability to take certain systems which have semiconductors inside them into these countries… right now, because we have controls on where all the semiconductors can go, then the entire system is restricted,” he said.
Krishna warned that rival countries are already exploiting this gap. “Otherwise, we are afraid that competing countries are going to be able to get that stack,” he said, urging Washington to maintain necessary safeguards but eliminate excessive barriers. “Lower barriers would be very, very helpful.”
Trump replied that his administration would act swiftly if issues arise. “I know every country very well, and we have ways of combating that quickly. So you’ll let me know,” he told the IBM chief.
Krishna also praised the administration’s deregulation efforts, saying streamlined rules help both U.S. industry and global partners, including development teams in India. “We really would like to thank you for everything you’re doing for economic growth… and for all the work you’re doing on deregulation and making things easier for business to participate in that growth,” he said.
He pointed to IBM’s work with U.S. agencies on digital modernization — experience that often influences best practices in India’s public and private sectors. “We worked with Commissioner Frank Bisignano to help make Social Security better… and we’ll work with him on making IRS,” he noted.
Krishna, among the most prominent Indian American leaders in the global technology sector, has guided IBM’s focus toward hybrid cloud and enterprise AI platforms that support India’s digital transformation across finance, telecom, logistics, healthcare and government services. (Source: IANS)
