China Restricts NVIDIA's AI Chip Sales to Local Tech Companies: A New Ban
So, it looks like NVIDIA is facing some headwinds in China. Word on the street is that the Chinese government, specifically the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), has told local tech behemoths like ByteDance and Alibaba to pump the brakes on ordering and even testing NVIDIA's latest AI chip, the RTX Pro 6000D.
Apparently, these companies have already been instructed to halt all activities related to this particular GPU. I can imagine that NVIDIA's CEO, Jensen Huang, isn't exactly thrilled about this development. He stated that he will "support the US" as it resolves its geopolitical issues with China.
You see, the US has been tightening export restrictions on certain AI chips, fearing they could be used to develop AI tech for military purposes. It's a complicated situation, and it seems like NVIDIA is caught in the middle. Adding insult to injury, this ban comes shortly after NVIDIA was accused of violating China's antitrust laws. It seems like a tough situation for the company.
It's interesting to note that some Chinese firms were already hesitant about the RTX Pro 6000D, possibly waiting for a more powerful model to get the green light from US authorities. Also, there are reports suggesting that domestic AI chips in China are now giving NVIDIA a run for its money. It looks like the local market is heating up. It will be interesting to watch how this plays out.
Source: Engadget