Trump’s AI protectionism has come for robotics

The Federal Communications Commission has issued a sweeping ban on foreign imports of advanced robots, including humanoids, quadrupeds, and wheeled robots. The decision, made by an increasingly partisan and Trump-aligned FCC, cites two justifications: foreign-made humanoids could collect sensitive data in homes and at facilities, posing a national security threat, and US robotics companies need protection from Chinese competition to build a secure domestic supply chain.

The move follows a familiar protectionist playbook used against Chinese solar panels, EVs, and drones, but the stakes are different because robotics is now the cutting edge of the AI industry. The Trump administration is also reportedly considering a ban on open-source Chinese AI models that rival OpenAI and Anthropic at lower cost, a move that would block businesses from an estimated $25 billion in annual savings. The robot ban thus represents an expansion of AI protectionism beyond today's leading labs into an emerging sector.

Some US robotics companies welcome the ruling. Gavin Kenneally, CEO of Ghost Robotics, argues the cybersecurity risks are real and cites an incident where a man controlled 7,000 robot vacuum cleaners. But there is a significant flaw: US robotics companies and academic labs depend heavily on cheap Chinese robots for research, often buying Chinese humanoids for tasks like flipping waffles and doing laundry. Aaron Prather of the Association for Advancing Automation says the ruling 'creates a challenge for US humanoid researchers.'