Alphabet Inc's Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL) and Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:MSFT) are reportedly providing Chinese companies access to Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ:NVDA) AI chips through data centers outside China, The Information reports.
The move comes as the current Biden administration imposes restrictions to prevent Chinese firms from utilizing U.S. technology for artificial intelligence, particularly advanced semiconductors.
The U.S. has informed allies that it is considering the strictest trade measures available if crucial chipmaking machinery providers continue with their business relations with China.
The Biden administration has asked cloud companies to scrutinize whether foreign entities are using U.S. data centers to train AI models.
According to the report, Microsoft provides server rental services, including those equipped with Nvidia's A100 and H100 chips, to Chinese customers through data centers located outside China.
Similarly, Google allows Chinese customers to use servers based outside mainland China and ensures that its services comply with U.S. export controls.
Before U.S. export controls, China accounted for more than a quarter of Nvidia's total revenues.
It is to be noted that despite the severe trade curbs, Nvidia is on track to sell $12 billion of artificial intelligence chips in China this year.
It is also reported that Nvidia's advanced AI chips are smuggled into China despite U.S. export restrictions.
An estimate suggests about 12,500 AI chips are smuggled annually, while Nvidia sold over 2.6 million A100 and H100 chips globally last year.
Google and Microsoft maintain that their operations adhere to current U.S. regulations, providing Chinese companies with essential AI capabilities while navigating the complexities of international trade restrictions.
Price Action: GOOGL shares are trading lower by 1.63% at $180.93 at the last check on Wednesday.
《信息報》報道,據報道,Alphabet Inc旗下的谷歌(納斯達克股票代碼:GOOGL)和微軟公司(納斯達克股票代碼:MSFT)正在通過中國境外的數據中心爲中國公司提供獲得英偉達公司(納斯達克股票代碼:NVDA)人工智能芯片的機會。
此舉是在現任拜登政府實施限制措施以防止中國企業利用美國的人工智能,尤其是先進的半導體技術之際採取的。
美國已告知盟國,如果關鍵芯片製造機械供應商繼續與中國保持業務關係,它正在考慮採取最嚴格的貿易措施。
拜登政府已要求雲公司審查外國實體是否正在使用美國數據中心來訓練人工智能模型。
根據該報告,微軟通過位於中國境外的數據中心向中國客戶提供服務器租賃服務,包括配備英偉達A100和H100芯片的服務。
同樣,谷歌允許中國客戶使用位於中國大陸以外的服務器,並確保其服務符合美國的出口管制。
在美國出口管制之前,中國佔英偉達總收入的四分之一以上。
值得注意的是,儘管有嚴格的貿易限制,但英偉達今年有望在中國出售120億美元的人工智能芯片。
另據報道,儘管有美國的出口限制,英偉達的先進人工智能芯片仍被走私到中國。
據估計,每年走私的人工智能芯片約有12,500個,而英偉達去年在全球售出超過260萬個A100和H100芯片。
谷歌和微軟堅持認爲,他們的業務符合美國現行法規,爲中國公司提供基本的人工智能能力,同時應對國際貿易限制的複雜性。
價格走勢:在週三的最後一次支票中,谷歌股價下跌1.63%,至180.93美元。