DeepSeek Develops Own AI Chip Amid US Export Curbs
Chinese AI lab DeepSeek is reportedly designing its own AI chip to sidestep US export curbs, following a year of adapting its models to Chinese silicon. The chip, for inference, would be fabricated by SMIC, China's largest foundry, and could reduce DeepSeek's reliance on third-party providers like Nvidia. The move could signal another entrant in the Chinese AI market.
Key points
- DeepSeek, a Chinese AI lab, is reportedly designing its own AI chip to sidestep US export curbs.
- The chip, for inference, would be fabricated by Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC), China's largest foundry.
- DeepSeek has spent the past year adapting its models to Chinese silicon, including Huawei's Ascend processors.
- The move could reduce DeepSeek's reliance on third-party providers like Nvidia and signal another entrant in the Chinese AI market.
- SMIC has been cut off from the most advanced chipmaking tools by US and Dutch export controls.
DeepSeek, a Chinese AI lab, is reportedly designing its own AI chip to sidestep US export curbs. The move, if confirmed, would mark a significant shift for the lab, which has spent the past year adapting its models to Chinese silicon, including Huawei's Ascend processors.
The chip, for inference, would be fabricated by Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC), China's largest foundry. SMIC has been cut off from the most advanced chipmaking tools by US and Dutch export controls, and is widely reported to be stuck on a 7-nanometre process several generations behind the leading edge.
The move could reduce DeepSeek's reliance on third-party providers like Nvidia and signal another entrant in the Chinese AI market. DeepSeek has made a name for itself with an open-source model that can hold its own against the big names for a fraction of the cost.
The implications of this development are significant, as it could further accelerate the growth of the Chinese AI market and reduce the dominance of Western players like Nvidia. However, the success of DeepSeek's chip development remains to be seen, and the lab's ability to overcome the technical and regulatory challenges ahead will be crucial.
Sources
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