How NVIDIA's new tech could help it prevent chip smuggling
What's the story
NVIDIA has developed a location verification technology that can identify the country where its chips are being used. The move is aimed at preventing the illegal transfer of its artificial intelligence (AI) chips to countries where their export is prohibited. The feature, which has been privately demonstrated by NVIDIA in recent months but not yet released, would be an optional software update for customers.
Tech details
New software to track chip performance
The new software from NVIDIA will use the confidential computing capabilities of its graphics processing units (GPUs). It is designed to let customers monitor a chip's overall computing performance, a common practice among companies buying fleets of processors for large data centers. An NVIDIA official said the software would use the time delay in communication with NVIDIA's servers to estimate a chip's location, similar to other internet-based services.
Official response
NVIDIA's statement on new software service
NVIDIA confirmed its plans for the new software service in a statement. "We're in the process of implementing a new software service that empowers data center operators to monitor the health and inventory of their entire AI GPU fleet," it said. The company added, "This customer-installed software agent leverages GPU telemetry to monitor fleet health, integrity and inventory."
Launch details
Location verification feature to debut on Blackwell chips
The location verification feature will first be available on NVIDIA's latest "Blackwell" chips, which have more security features for a process called "attestation." The company is also looking into options for its previous generations of Hopper and Ampere semiconductors. If launched, this update could address calls from the White House and US lawmakers for measures to prevent AI chip smuggling to China and other countries where their sale is restricted.
Geopolitical implications
NVIDIA's technology and US-China relations
The call for location verification in the US has led China's top cybersecurity regulator to question NVIDIA about possible backdoors in its products. These could potentially allow the US to bypass security features of its chips. This regulatory cloud resurfaced after President Donald Trump said he would allow exports of the NVIDIA H200, a predecessor to its current flagship Blackwell chips, to China.