Key Takeaways
- Advanced Micro Devices reportedly failed to make the artificial intelligence chip it tailored for the Chinese market weak enough to be sold without a license from the Commerce Department.
- The chipmaker had hoped to gain a green light from the Commerce Department to sell the AI processor to Chinese customers as it performs at a lower level than what AMD sells outside of China, Bloomberg News reported.
- The U.S. has restricted sales of the country’s most advanced semiconductor technologies to China citing national security concerns.
Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) reportedly failed to make the artificial intelligence chip it tailored for the Chinese market weak enough to be sold without a license from the Commerce Department, dealing a setback for chipmaker.
The chipmaker had hoped to gain a green light from the Commerce Department to sell the AI processor to Chinese customers as it performs at a lower level than what AMD sells outside of China, Bloomberg News reported, citing people familiar with the situation.
But U.S. officials told AMD it must still obtain a license from Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security in order to sell it, according to the report.
The U.S. has restricted sales of the country’s most advanced semiconductor technologies to China citing national security concerns.
President Joe Biden’s administration launched a sweeping set of restrictions on exports of high-end semiconductors to China in 2022, aimed at preventing the country from accessing sensitive technologies that could be used in military applications. It strengthened them after that.
Companies like Nvidia (NVDA) are selling slowed-down versions of its premium AI chips to comply with restrictions aimed at curbing China’s access to advanced semiconductor technologies.
AMD shares were down 2.1% in pre-market trading about half an hour before the opening bell but are up almost 50% this year on the back of the euphoria around all things AI.