Hard Fork AI How Nvidia is Fighting Back Against Export Controls
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Aug 9, 2025 The podcast dives into Nvidia's strategic response to recent export controls affecting their AI chips. It highlights the arrest of individuals for smuggling these chips to China, showcasing the geopolitical tensions at play. The discussion revolves around Nvidia's attempts to navigate these challenges while ensuring the security of their technology. Can their bet on open markets withstand rising political pressures? Tune in for a riveting analysis of the evolving landscape in AI and technology.
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High-Value GPU Smuggling Arrests
- Two people were just arrested for smuggling AI chips to China and the rumors basically point to the fact that these were NVIDIA chips.
- They are accused of willfully shipping sensitive technologies and violating the Export Control Reform Act.
DOJ Hints At H100 Without Naming It
- The DOJ described the devices as "the most powerful chip in the market," implicitly pointing to NVIDIA's H100 without naming it.
- That phrasing, plus NVIDIA's market dominance, makes attribution obvious even when the company isn't named.
Routing Through Third Countries
- Shipments moved through Singapore and Malaysia while payments came from Hong Kong and China, indicating deliberate export-evasion routing.
- Prosecutors uncovered communications explicitly saying Malaysia was used to skirt US export restrictions.