By Fanny Potkin
SINGAPORE – Nvidia is developing a version of its new flagship AI chip for the Chinese market that complies with current U.S. export controls, according to three sources familiar with the matter.
The AI chip giant unveiled its “Blackwell” chip series in March, which is set to go into mass production later this year, with the B200 chip in the series boasting speeds up to 30 times faster than its predecessor at some tasks, such as providing answers from a chatbot.
Nvidia will work with Inspur, one of its main distribution partners in China, to launch and distribute the chip, tentatively named “B20,” according to two of the sources.
The sources declined to be identified as Nvidia has yet to make an official announcement.
An Nvidia spokesman declined to comment. Inspur did not respond to a request for comment.
Washington has tightened export controls on cutting-edge semiconductors to China in 2023 in an attempt to thwart supercomputing breakthroughs that could aid China's military.
Since then, Nvidia has developed three chips specifically tailored for the Chinese market.
(This article has been refiled to fix a spelling mistake in the headline)
(Reporting by Fanny Potkin in Singapore; Editing by Anne Marie Roantree and Edwina Gibbs)
