Following concerns over China’s rapid progress in artificial intelligence, U.S. officials are taking measures to restrict Chinese startup DeepSeek and its collaboration with American chip giant Nvidia. Two months after DeepSeek gained significant attention in Washington and on Wall Street, the Trump administration has acted to limit Nvidia’s export of AI chips to China. Additionally, discussions are underway regarding penalties that could prevent DeepSeek from acquiring U.S. technology and restrict Americans’ access to its services, according to three anonymous sources familiar with the matter.
Congressional leaders are also scrutinizing Nvidia. The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, which addresses national security threats from China, launched an investigation into Nvidia’s chip sales across Asia. This inquiry aims to determine if Nvidia provided DeepSeek with critical technology for AI development, potentially violating U.S. regulations. This marks the first congressional investigation into Nvidia’s operations, as the Trump administration grapples with enforcing a Biden-era rule that limits AI chip exports to various countries.
These actions reflect growing fears in Washington that China might surpass the U.S. in AI, impacting national security and global politics. A Chinese lead in AI could accelerate the development of advanced weapons systems and encourage other nations to adopt its AI infrastructure, diminishing U.S. influence globally.
— new from The New York Times