Two Chinese companies cleared to buy banned Nvidia AI chips have empty offices and unknown addresses

An investigation has found that addresses for two Chinese companies approved to purchase Nvidia H200 chips led to empty offices, and the receptionists at the buildings were unfamiliar with them. According to The New York Times, these companies didn’t just have empty offices; their executives are often linked to other firms sanctioned by the United States for working with and providing advanced technology to the Chinese military.

This news has revealed concerns that the U.S. Department of Commerce is simply rubber-stamping GPU export license applications instead of scrutinizing each one for potential links to Beijing. “I have a ton of concerns that neither the Commerce Department or Nvidia is doing the due diligence needed to ensure that the licensing terms are being followed,” former China director for the White House National Security Council Liza Tobin told the publication.

Many of these approved companies include well-known entities like Baidu, BYD, Tesla Shanghai, as well as ZTE, which has previously been blacklisted …