Republican Lawmaker Urges Against Selling Nvidia’s Blackwell Chip to China
U.S. lawmakers are raising concerns over the potential sale of Nvidia’s Blackwell chip to China. Prominent voices, including House Select Committee on China Chairman John Moolenaar, have warned that such a move could significantly damage American leadership in artificial intelligence. Their caution echoed a metaphor, likening the sale to providing Iran with weapons-grade uranium.
Concerns Over AI Chip Export to China
Moolenaar stated, “We cannot sell the latest advanced AI chips to our country’s primary adversary.” His remarks come in response to indications that President Donald Trump may consider allowing the export of Nvidia’s downgraded B30A chip during a future discussion with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Implications of Exporting the B30A Chip
Experts have expressed that selling the B30A could mark an end to U.S. chip export restrictions, established in 2022. These restrictions aimed to prevent the Chinese military from leveraging American technology and to impede China’s AI advancements. According to Tim Fist, co-author of a recent analysis, allowing the export of the B30A would diminish the United States’ current AI advantage over China.
- Best Case Scenario: If no powerful chips are exported, the U.S. will possess 30 times more AI computing power than China.
- Worst Case Scenario: If exports are authorized, by 2026, China could surpass the U.S. in AI computing capabilities.
- Median Scenario: Limited chip exports could reduce the U.S. advantage to four times that of China.
Industry Perspectives
Nvidia’s representatives argue that current U.S. policies do not guarantee an advantage in AI. They contend that China has sufficient domestically produced chips for military applications and does not need American technology.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, along with 11 other senators, has implored Trump to refrain from lifting restrictions on AI chip exports in his negotiations with China. The overarching sentiment remains: restricting technology transfer is crucial for maintaining U.S. hegemony in artificial intelligence.
As discussions unfold, the outcomes may have lasting effects on the balance of technological power between the U.S. and China. Experts caution that easing export controls could lead to significant shifts in the competitive landscape of AI development.
