Based on the provided search results, Nvidia officially states they have no evidence of AI chip diversion and are not directly involved in unauthorized sales into regions like China where certain chips are restricted. However, there is growing pressure and legislative action aiming to require tracking of high-end chips like the B200 after sale.
Here's a breakdown:
- Nvidia's Position: Nvidia maintains that it does not knowingly sell restricted chips to China and that any data centers built with smuggled products will be difficult to support and costly to operate without authorized service and support. They have stated that they only provide service and support for authorized products.
- Smuggling and Black Market: Reports indicate that significant amounts of high-end Nvidia chips, including the B200, are being smuggled into China and sold on the black market. Chinese distributors have been selling these chips to data center suppliers, according to Quartz.
- Legislative Efforts to Track Chips: There is a push from US lawmakers to mandate the tracking of AI chips, including those from Nvidia, to verify their location after sale and prevent unauthorized use, especially in China. Proposed legislation, such as the Chip Security Act, would require embedding location verification mechanisms in chips before export.
In essence, while Nvidia itself may not be actively tracking the location of every B200 chip after it's sold through legitimate channels, the issue of unauthorized sales and use is significant enough that government regulations are being proposed to address it.
