The United States will limit the export of artificial intelligence software from Monday to keep sensitive technology out of the hands of rivals such as China. US companies that export software aerial images to countries other than Canada must now apply for a license.

This is software for sensors, drones and satellites, among others, with which images can be analyzed automatically. In this way military and civilian targets can be recognized.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a collective name for technology that allows a computer to analyze or act independently to a certain degree. For example, software can learn to recognize a similar situation based on many examples of a situation.

The US passed a law in 2018 requiring the US Department of Economic Affairs to lay down stricter rules for the export of sensitive technologies to, for example, China. These are measures to protect the security and economy of the country.