China's top AI models trained on banned Nvidia chips, research finds

New research indicates that China's most advanced AI models, including those from DeepSeek and Moonshot AI, were trained on Nvidia Blackwell chips that are banned from export to China, highlighting significant failures in U.S. export controls. The findings come as Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang departed the company amid allegations tied to chip smuggling. The analysis by researcher Will DePue found fingerprints of Blackwell training in the weights of leading open-weight models from DeepSeek, Moonshot AI, MiniMax, and Ant Group. U.S. officials previously cited intelligence suggesting Moonshot used banned chips, while estimates indicate roughly two million advanced chips reached China in 2024-2025 through schemes hiding their destinations. The chips may have been accessed via offshore data centers in Malaysia, a loophole critics say undermines export ban goals. Nvidia faces potential corporate liability if investigators confirm smuggling and Huang's awareness, while short-sellers note China's push for domestic chips could eventually reduce demand for Nvidia products.