News from the AI & ML world
DeeperML - #china
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Eric Geller@cybersecuritydive.com
// 30d
SentinelOne, a cybersecurity firm, has revealed that it was the target of a year-long reconnaissance campaign by China-linked espionage groups, identified as APT15 and UNC5174. This campaign, dubbed "PurpleHaze," involved network reconnaissance and intrusion attempts, ultimately aiming to gather strategic intelligence and potentially establish access for future conflicts. SentinelOne discovered the campaign when the suspected Chinese spies tried to break into the security vendor's own servers in October 2024. The attempted intrusion on SentinelOne's systems failed, but it prompted a deeper investigation into the broader campaign and the malware being used.
The investigation revealed that over 70 organizations across multiple sectors globally were targeted, including a South Asian government entity and a European media organization. The attacks spanned from July 2024 to March 2025 and involved the use of ShadowPad malware and post-exploitation espionage activity. These targeted sectors include manufacturing, government, finance, telecommunications, and research. The coordinated attacks are believed to be connected to Chinese government spying programs. SentinelOne has expressed high confidence that the PurpleHaze and ShadowPad activity clusters can be attributed to China-nexus threat actors. This incident underscores the persistent threat that Chinese cyber espionage actors pose to global industries and public sector organizations. The attack on SentinelOne also highlights that cybersecurity vendors themselves are prime targets for these groups, given their deep visibility into client environments and ability to disrupt adversary operations. SentinelOne recommends that more proactive steps are taken to prevent future attacks. Recommended read:
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Doug Black@insideAI News
// 41d
NVIDIA is actively developing AI chips specifically designed to comply with U.S. export regulations for the Chinese market. This strategic move aims to allow NVIDIA to maintain its presence in China's significant AI market despite increasing restrictions. Concurrently, NVIDIA's CEO Jensen Huang has voiced support for Trump's tariff plan, describing it as "utterly visionary," signaling a complex navigation of both technological and political landscapes. These developments highlight NVIDIA's determination to balance its business interests with evolving geopolitical dynamics.
The new chips, reportedly based on the RTX Pro 6000-series, will have significantly reduced specifications to meet export control requirements. This includes forgoing advanced technologies like Taiwan Semiconductor’s CoWoS packaging and using standard GDDR7 memory instead of high-bandwidth memory. While the specifics of the chips, potentially named RTX Pro 6000D, are still emerging, these adjustments are essential for NVIDIA to continue offering competitive AI solutions in China, where a substantial number of AI developers are located. Challenges persist, as the company previously absorbed a $4.5 billion hit due to export restrictions, leading to a write-down on Chinese inventory and commitments. The emergence of strong domestic competitors, particularly Huawei, intensifies the pressure on NVIDIA. Huawei's Ascend 910C and 910B processors have gained traction among major Chinese tech firms, and their CloudMatrix 384 rack system directly rivals NVIDIA's Blackwell GB200 NVL72 configuration. Despite these obstacles, NVIDIA remains committed to the Chinese market, viewing it as crucial for maintaining its global leadership in AI technology. Recommended read:
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@www.artificialintelligence-news.com
// 43d
Nvidia is actively working to maintain its presence in the rapidly expanding Chinese AI chip market, even amidst tightening U.S. export controls and rising domestic competition from companies like Huawei. To navigate these challenges, Nvidia is developing a cheaper, stripped-down AI chip based on its Blackwell architecture, specifically tailored for the Chinese market. This new chip is designed to comply with U.S. regulations while offering competitive performance, aiming to regain some of the market share Nvidia has been losing.
This strategic gamble involves significant cost reductions and performance trade-offs. The new processor, expected to be priced between $6,500 and $8,000, will use the RTX Pro 6000D foundation with GDDR7 memory, forgoing the high-bandwidth memory found in premium variants and Taiwan Semiconductor's advanced CoWoS packaging technology. This decision is driven by the need to meet export restrictions and lower manufacturing complexity, following a $5.5 billion writedown Nvidia absorbed after the prohibition of its H20 sales in China. Huawei's growing influence in the Chinese AI chip landscape is a key factor driving Nvidia's strategy. Huawei's Ascend 910C and 910B processors are gaining adoption among major domestic tech firms, challenging Nvidia's dominance, particularly in inference applications. The competitive pressure extends to complete infrastructure solutions, with Huawei's CloudMatrix 384 rack system directly challenging Nvidia's Blackwell GB200 NVL72 configuration. The company hopes the new budget option will help them survive the growth of the internal competion, Recommended read:
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@thetechbasic.com
// 52d
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thetechbasic.com
, Bloomberg Technology
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Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has denied allegations of AI chip diversion to China, stating there is no evidence of any illegal flow of hardware. Speaking in Taipei, Huang addressed global concerns regarding the transfer of advanced technology to restricted markets. He emphasized the impracticality of covertly shipping Nvidia’s large and complex systems, such as the Grace Blackwell, which weighs nearly two tons and comprises numerous high-powered GPUs and processors.
Huang highlighted the strict oversight by Nvidia's customers, which include major tech giants like Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, and Meta Platforms. These customers are fully aware of and compliant with US export controls, as losing access to Nvidia's technology would be a significant setback for them. The CEO underscored the importance of trust and transparency in Nvidia's supply chain, emphasizing the value customers place on maintaining access to Nvidia's cutting-edge AI solutions. In other news, Nvidia is reportedly planning to establish a new research and development center in Shanghai to further solidify its position in the AI chip market. This initiative aims to tailor solutions specifically for Chinese clients while also contributing to global R&D efforts in areas such as chip design verification, product optimization, and autonomous driving technologies. The Shanghai government has reportedly expressed initial support for this project, which would expand Nvidia's presence in the city beyond its current sales and support operations. Recommended read:
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@www.ic3.gov
// 75d
The FBI has issued a public appeal for information regarding a widespread cyber campaign targeting US telecommunications infrastructure. The activity, attributed to a hacking group affiliated with the People's Republic of China and tracked as 'Salt Typhoon,' has resulted in the compromise of multiple U.S. telecommunications companies and others worldwide. The breaches, which have been ongoing for at least two years, have led to the theft of call data logs, a limited number of private communications, and the copying of select information subject to court-ordered U.S. law enforcement requests. The FBI is seeking information about the individuals who comprise Salt Typhoon and any details related to their malicious cyber activity.
The FBI, through its Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), is urging anyone with information about Salt Typhoon to come forward. The agency's investigation has uncovered a broad and sophisticated cyber operation that exploited access to telecommunications networks to target victims on a global scale. In October, the FBI and CISA confirmed that Chinese state hackers had breached multiple telecom providers, including major companies like AT&T, Verizon, Lumen, Charter Communications, Consolidated Communications, and Windstream, as well as dozens of other telecom companies in numerous countries. In an effort to incentivize informants, the U.S. Department of State’s Rewards for Justice (RFJ) program is offering a reward of up to US$10 million for information about foreign government-linked individuals participating in malicious cyber activities against US critical infrastructure. The FBI is accepting tips via TOR in a likely attempt to attract potential informants based in China. The agency has also released public statements and guidance on Salt Typhoon activity in collaboration with U.S. government partners, including the publication of 'Enhanced Visibility and Hardening Guidance for Communications Infrastructure.' Salt Typhoon is also known by other names such as RedMike, Ghost Emperor, FamousSparrow, Earth Estries, and UNC2286. Recommended read:
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Harsh Sharma@TechDator
// 78d
Huawei is intensifying its challenge to Nvidia in the Chinese AI market by preparing to ship its Ascend 910C AI chips in large volumes. This move comes at a crucial time as Chinese tech firms are actively seeking domestic alternatives to Nvidia's H20 chip, which is now subject to U.S. export restrictions. The Ascend 910C aims to bolster China's tech independence, providing a homegrown solution amidst limited access to foreign chips. The chip combines two 910B processors into one package, utilizing advanced integration to rival the performance of Nvidia’s H100.
Huawei's strategy involves a multi-pronged approach. Late last year, the company sent Ascend 910C samples to Chinese tech firms and began taking early orders. Deliveries have already started, signaling Huawei's readiness to scale up production. While the 910C may not surpass Nvidia's newer B200, it is designed to meet the needs of Chinese developers who are restricted from accessing foreign options. The production of the Ascend 910C involves a complex supply chain, with parts crafted by China's Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) using its N+2 7nm process. Despite the challenges from Huawei, Nvidia remains committed to the Chinese market. Nvidia is reportedly collaborating with DeepSeek, a local AI leader, to develop chips within China using domestic factories and materials. This plan includes establishing research teams in China and utilizing SMIC, along with local memory makers and packaging partners, to produce China-specific chips. CEO Jensen Huang has affirmed that Nvidia will continue to make significant efforts to optimize its products to comply with regulations and serve Chinese companies, even amidst ongoing trade tensions and tariffs. Recommended read:
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@www.pcguide.com
// 80d
Huawei is emerging as a significant competitor to NVIDIA in the artificial intelligence hardware arena. The Chinese tech giant recently showcased its CloudMatrix 384 supercomputer at the Huawei Cloud Ecosystem Conference 2025, boasting superior performance metrics compared to NVIDIA's offerings. According to Huawei's CEO of Cloud Computing, Zhang Ping’an, the CloudMatrix 384 stands out for its "high density," "high speed," and "high efficiency," leading in computing power, interconnect bandwidth, and memory bandwidth. This development signals a notable shift in the AI chip sector, especially given the limitations US restrictions place on NVIDIA's exports to China.
The CloudMatrix 384 leverages the upcoming Ascend 910C chips, built on a 7nm process node. According to sources on Twitter, the supercomputer is better than the NVIDIA GB300 NVL72 on all metrics. This technological advancement could have a significant impact on the future of AI development and deployment across various industries. The rivalry between Huawei and NVIDIA is expected to intensify, reshaping the competitive landscape of the AI hardware market. Simultaneously, cybersecurity concerns are being raised by the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security regarding Chinese state-sponsored actors targeting network edge routers. The agency has observed increasing activity, including that associated with SALT TYPHOON, aimed at compromising these devices across critical infrastructure sectors. Threat actors exploit vulnerabilities in security and network edge routing devices to enter a network, monitor, modify, and exfiltrate network traffic, or potentially move deeper into victim networks. The Cyber Centre urges organizations to bolster awareness and leverage guidance to protect their networks, including applying patches and adhering to manufacturer's security guidance. Recommended read:
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NVIDIA Newsroom@NVIDIA Blog
// 84d
Nvidia has announced a major initiative to manufacture its AI supercomputers entirely within the United States. The company aims to produce up to $500 billion worth of AI infrastructure in the U.S. over the next four years, partnering with major manufacturing firms like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), Foxconn, Wistron, Amkor, and SPIL. This move marks the first time Nvidia will carry out chip packaging and supercomputer assembly entirely within the United States. The company sees this effort as a way to meet the increasing demand for AI chips, strengthen its supply chain, and boost resilience.
Nvidia is commissioning over a million square feet of manufacturing space to build and test Blackwell chips in Arizona and assemble AI supercomputers in Texas. Production of Blackwell chips has already begun at TSMC’s chip plants in Phoenix, Arizona. The company is also constructing supercomputer manufacturing plants in Texas, partnering with Foxconn in Houston and Wistron in Dallas, with mass production expected to ramp up within the next 12-15 months. These facilities are designed to support the deployment of "gigawatt AI factories", data centers specifically built for processing artificial intelligence. CEO Jensen Huang emphasized the significance of bringing AI infrastructure manufacturing to the U.S., stating that "The engines of the world’s AI infrastructure are being built in the United States for the first time." Nvidia also plans to deploy its own technologies to optimize the design and operation of the new facilities, utilizing platforms like Omniverse to simulate factory operations and Isaac GR00T to develop automated robotics systems. The company said domestic production could help drive long-term economic growth and job creation. Recommended read:
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ashilov@gmail.com (Anton@tomshardware.com
// 84d
Nvidia is facing a significant financial setback due to tightened U.S. export restrictions on its H20 AI chips to China. The U.S. government, citing concerns about the chips' potential use in Chinese supercomputers, now requires Nvidia to obtain special licenses for all H20 chip exports to China, Hong Kong, and Macau. This indefinite restriction, revealed on April 9, 2025, has forced Nvidia to write off $5.5 billion in GPUs, as unsold inventory and sales commitments take a hit. The H20 chip, a modified version of the H100 designed to comply with previous export rules, was a key product for Nvidia in the Chinese market, powering AI applications like chatbots and image generators.
This move by the U.S. government is seen as a further escalation in the ongoing tech rivalry between the two nations. The restrictions aim to prevent the H20 chips, known for their memory and interconnect bandwidth, from contributing to China's AI ambitions, particularly in supercomputing. While Nvidia can still apply for licenses, the expectation is that denials will be the norm, effectively cutting off a significant revenue stream. This stricter stance represents a shift from previous policies, which permitted the export of the H20 as a less powerful alternative to other restricted chips. Even AMD's Instinct MI308 is reportedly facing export restrictions too. The financial impact of these restrictions is substantial. Nvidia anticipates a $5.5 billion charge in its first fiscal quarter of 2026, which ends on April 27, 2025, due to inventory, purchase commitments, and related reserves. This news sent Nvidia shares tumbling in after-hours trading, raising concerns about the company's future prospects in the crucial Chinese market. The regulatory filing indicated that the new controls are in place to prevent the chips from finding their way into Chinese supercomputers. Recommended read:
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