Demand in China spikes for banned Nvidia AI chip repairs
China’s appetite has surged for fixing Nvidia AI chips that the US has banned from export to Chinese rivals.
The issue started after Washington blocked sales of advanced Nvidia AI processors to China’s tech firms. That move was meant to limit Beijing’s access to cutting-edge AI hardware.
Soon after, a black market emerged, offering repair services for these restricted chips inside China.
The launch of this underground repair boom highlights a gap in the US trade measures. Chips already in China are getting patched up and reused instead of new units arriving.
The repair biz challenges US efforts to stifle American AI tech from fueling Chinese development.