Chinese engineers in the field of artificial intelligence have reportedly found a way to bypass American export restrictions and access NVIDIA chips, which are prohibited for export to China, through intermediaries. Despite US efforts to hinder AI development in China, companies are still able to utilize computing power with advanced chips, even without physically bringing these components into the country.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Chinese AI developers are using cloud servers equipped with NVIDIA chips located outside the country. Some developers are using cryptocurrency for anonymous payments. For instance, a former Bitcoin miner named Derek O, who works with Chinese firms, managed to secure investors from the US and Dubai to purchase servers with NVIDIA H100 chips. These servers were then set up in a data center in Australia, providing computing power to a company based in Beijing.
Although NVIDIA has designed chips such as the H20 model to comply with US export control requirements, analysts predict that there is a possibility of this model being prohibited for sale to China during the revision of export restrictions in October. The Biden administration is also considering implementing a rule that would prevent US allies from selling advanced equipment used in microchip production.
As a contingency plan, NVIDIA is developing a new version of its Blackwell artificial intelligence platform specifically for the Chinese market, tailored to meet American export control regulations. The chip, initially called “B20”, is set to be launched in collaboration with local distributor Inspur.
Legal experts consulted by the Wall Street Journal point out that buyers, sellers, and intermediaries involved in obtaining prohibited NVIDIA chips are not violating any laws. Additionally, cloud companies argue that trade restrictions do not apply to accessing cloud services within the US.
In response, the US Department of Commerce has proposed a new rule to prevent “foreign malicious actors” from accessing cloud computing infrastructures in the US. It remains uncertain whether AI developers would fall under this definition, but regardless, they could still rent servers in locations such as Australia without hindrance.
Therefore, in the ever-evolving landscape of global high-tech competition, a complex game is unfolding where rules are constantly changing, and participants are seeking new ways to achieve their objectives. In this dynamic environment, it is crucial to remember that genuine progress thrives on knowledge and collaboration rather than restrictions and prohibitions.