Nvidia has responded to Anthropic’s support for U.S. export controls on AI chips, expressing disagreement with the proposed restrictions. On Wednesday, Anthropic backed the U.S. Department of Commerce’s “Framework for Artificial Intelligence Diffusion,” which would impose AI chip export restrictions starting May 15.
A day later, Nvidia’s spokesperson countered Anthropic’s claims about AI chip smuggling, stating that American firms should focus on innovation rather than making unsubstantiated claims. The spokesperson referenced Anthropic’s assertions that large AI chips are being smuggled into countries like China in unusual ways, such as hidden in “baby bumps” or alongside live lobsters.
Nvidia’s spokesperson further emphasized that China has highly capable AI experts and a significant number of the world’s AI researchers, suggesting that the U.S. cannot rely on regulatory manipulation to gain an advantage in AI. Export restrictions could impact Nvidia’s global revenue, particularly given that new licensing requirements for its H20 AI chips sold in China could cost the company $5.5 billion in Q1 of its 2026 fiscal year.
Nvidia’s told TechCrunch: “China, with half of the world’s AI researchers, has highly capable AI experts at every layer of the AI stack. America cannot manipulate regulators to capture victory in AI.”
Let’s see how the story unfolds…
