(Beijing Reuters) Although the United States prohibits the sale of high -end artificial intelligence chips to China, the bidding documents obtained by Reuters show that Chinese universities and research institutions have obtained Nvidia artificial intelligence chips through third -party dealers.
Reuters released an exclusive report on Tuesday (April 23), saying that after checking hundreds of bidding documents, 10 Chinese entities purchased servers with high -end Nvida artificial intelligence chips through dealers.These servers come from ultra -micro computer companies, Dell Technology Corporation and Taiwan Giga Technology Corporation.
The date of these bidding documents is from November 20, 2023 to February 28 this year.Buyers include the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Shandong Institute of Artificial Intelligence, the Hubei Provincial Earthquake Administration, Shandong University and Southwest University, and a technology investment company under the Government of Heilongjiang Province, a state -owned aviation research center and a space science center.
Tendering documents show that the amount involved in these transactions is between 7,500 yuan (RMB, the same below, S $ 13,000) to 1.86 million yuan.The 11 chip sellers supplied are unknown Chinese retailers.
The United States expanded its chip ban on China last November, and prohibited high -end artificial intelligence (AI) chips to China.However, the above transactions have occurred after the chip ban expands, and only covers a small part of Chinese state -owned entity procurement, indicating that Chinese entities can still have channels to obtain these limited high -tech products.
Although only a few servers and dozens of chips are involved in each purchase, seven analysts and industry executives say they may be useful in training models and advanced research.
Lawyer: It is difficult for US officials to account for accountability
The US Department of Commerce stated that they could not conduct any investigations that may be underway, but responded to the Reuters that the US Industry and Security Agency would monitor the transfer of all limited chips, check their final use, and investigate potential illegal acts.Including the behavior of the shell company.
Nvidia said that the products involved in the bidding documents are all products exported and widely supplied before the introduction of US restrictions."If the product is determined to be resold illegally, we will cooperate with customers to investigate and take appropriate action."
Daniel Gerkin, partner of Kirkland Ellis, Washington law, told Reuters that the downstream supply of the chip is opaque, and the chip may flow into the Chinese market without the manufacturer's knowledge.He said that if Nvida proves that he has fulfilled the investigation obligation to buyers during the sale process, it would be difficult for the US government to hold Nvidia's responsibility.
In the United States, companies and individuals who have been accused of violating export control may face a fine of hundreds of thousands of dollars ($ 100,000 or about S $ 136,290) and the individual's maximum 20 -year imprisonment.
Ultra -micro computers said that there is no illegal operation, and pointed out that the ultra -micro server recognized by Reuters on the bidding is a model that is older or universal, and does not have the ability to large -scale artificial intelligence operations.Both Dell and Gigabyte said they did not find illegal acts and said they would continue to investigate.
Reuters reported in January that after the U.S. -U.S.'s prohibition, the underground market in China has sprung up.Chinese suppliers will buy excess inventory, or imports through local registered companies in India, Singapore and other places.
