AI export controls

Nvidia denied reports that Chinese AI startup DeepSeek smuggled its advanced Blackwell chips, which the U.S. has banned from export to protect a strategic AI lead. While Nvidia investigates all leads, it says there’s no evidence of “phantom data centers.” President Trump has proposed allowing H200 chips to “approved” Chinese customers with a 25% U.S. revenue share, sparking bipartisan debate over technology‑transfer risks. DeepSeek’s low‑cost R1 model has risen quickly, highlighting competitive pressure on Western AI firms and the uncertainty of export controls.

Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison launched a $30‑per‑share cash hostile bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, drawing political backing from Jared Kushner and sparking antitrust concerns, while shares of both firms rose. The U.S. will allow Nvidia, AMD and Intel to export AI chips to restricted markets for a 25 % royalty, boosting their stocks. Meta’s AI strategy pivots from open‑source Llama to a proprietary “Avocado” model, causing internal disarray. Washington unveiled a $12 billion farm aid package funded by tariffs. McDonald’s will tighten franchise pricing oversight from 2026. IBM announced an $11 billion acquisition of Confluent to expand its hybrid‑cloud and real‑time data capabilities.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang met former President Donald Trump on Capitol Hill to discuss the proposed GAIN AI Act, which would force U.S. chipmakers to prioritize domestic sales of advanced AI processors over exports to markets such as China. Huang welcomed the bill’s exclusion from the NDAA, warning it would stifle innovation and harm U.S. competitiveness, and advocated for a single federal AI framework rather than fragmented state rules. He noted that tighter export controls could reshape global AI‑hardware supply chains, prompting firms like Nvidia and AMD to shift focus toward domestic and allied‑nation customers while navigating stricter compliance requirements.