Following Nvidia, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD)'s export of artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductors to China has been halted.
Bloomberg News reported on the 4th (local time), citing sources, that AMD requested the Department of Commerce to sell AI chips to China, but the request was denied.
According to Bloomberg, the chips in question are downgraded products compared to those sold outside China, in compliance with U.S. export restriction regulations. However, U.S. authorities reportedly responded that the chip performance is still high and that a license from the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security is required to sell them. It is not confirmed whether AMD has applied for the license.
The U.S. government introduced measures in 2022 to block the export of advanced semiconductor equipment to China. Additionally, in October last year, it banned the export of low-spec AI chips.
Nvidia, the world's number one AI chip company, lowered specifications and sold the A800 and H800 models after its export routes were blocked. When stricter regulations made exporting the A800 and H800 difficult, it further lowered specifications and released the L20, L2, and H20 models.
At that time, AMD judged that China did not account for as large a share as Nvidia, so it was unlikely to be significantly affected by export restrictions. However, the situation changed as AMD aggressively targeted the AI chip market recently. In December last year, it launched the MI300 lineup and introduced the MI309, known as a product for the Chinese market, to pursue market penetration. The product that the Department of Commerce recently halted exports for is also likely the MI309.
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