In-Short
- Chinese entities use cloud services to access US AI chips despite export restrictions.
- Intermediaries facilitate access to Amazon Web Services and other cloud platforms.
- US officials express concerns; Commerce Department seeks to tighten rules.
- Report underscores challenges in regulating global technology access.
Summary of the Article
Chinese organizations are leveraging cloud services, including Amazon Web Services (AWS), to circumvent US export restrictions and gain access to advanced AI chips. A Reuters investigation based on public tender documents has uncovered that at least 11 Chinese entities have sought such access through intermediaries, with four explicitly naming AWS.
AWS has stated its compliance with US laws, including trade laws. However, the current regulations do not prohibit providing access to high-end AI chips or advanced AI models through cloud services, which has become a loophole of concern for US officials and lawmakers. For instance, Shenzhen University and Zhejiang Lab have been reported to use AWS for accessing powerful Nvidia chips and computing services for AI projects.
The US Commerce Department is responding to these concerns by proposing new rules to strengthen controls and require US cloud firms to verify users of large AI models. The department aims to prevent the use of US cloud computing services for “malicious cyber-enabled activity.”
The situation highlights the complexity of regulating access to advanced computing resources in a globally connected tech landscape. It also raises questions about the effectiveness of current export controls and the potential need for more comprehensive legislation.
This development is likely to fuel ongoing debates about technology transfer, national security, and the global AI race, as policymakers and industry leaders consider the implications of these findings.
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