The US government has taken a covert approach to prevent the illegal diversion of advanced AI chips to China by secretly embedding location-tracking devices in shipments. This move is part of a broader effort to enforce export controls aimed at limiting China's access to cutting-edge American technology, particularly in the field of artificial intelligence.
The trackers have been found in shipments of servers from Dell and Super Micro, which contain Nvidia and AMD chips. The primary goal of this initiative is to build cases against individuals and companies profiting from violating US export controls. The Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security, Homeland Security Investigations, and the FBI are reportedly involved in the operations.
The trackers are typically hidden in packaging or discreetly embedded within servers themselves, making it difficult for unauthorized parties to detect and remove them. Some trackers are as large as a smartphone, while others are much smaller and embedded within servers.
The US began restricting exports of advanced chips to China in 2022, citing concerns over their potential military use. China has strongly criticized the US approach, calling it an attempt to suppress its technological rise. The use of trackers in semiconductor shipments reflects the growing tension between Washington and Beijing over control of cutting-edge technology.
By embedding trackers in AI chip shipments, the US government aims to prevent China from acquiring advanced technology that could be used for military or strategic purposes. This move highlights the complexities of the global technology landscape and the measures being taken to enforce export controls and prevent the misuse of sensitive technologies.
