Research Suggests Banned Nvidia Blackwell Chips Used to Train Leading Chinese AI Models
New research from Unemployment Labs suggests that China's most advanced open-weight AI models, including those from DeepSeek and Moonshot AI, were trained using Nvidia Blackwell GPUs despite US export restrictions. Analysis of model weights indicates 'fingerprints' consistent with training on these banned high-end chips. This development highlights significant challenges in enforcing US technology controls intended to maintain a competitive edge in artificial intelligence. The report also links the proliferation of these chips to smuggling operations involving Megaspeed, a company led by Alice Huang. Amidst these findings, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has departed the company following allegations regarding his relationship with Huang and potential corporate liability related to export control violations. While some compute may be accessed via offshore data centers in regions like Malaysia, US policymakers are increasingly calling for stricter controls on chip usage regardless of physical location.
Tickers: $NVDA
Topics: AI hardware smuggling CEO resignation Export controls Geopolitics Nvidia Blackwell GPUs
Read the full article at TechCrunch
Part of the story Moonshot AI Seeks Access to Nvidia Blackwell Chips via European Data Centers (5 articles)