Nvidia tightens tracking of AI GPUs in Southeast Asia as Chinese chip smuggling draws scrutiny, report claims

Southeast Asia computing providers are now reportedly required to register with Nvidia's Fleet Intelligence tracking system if they want to become official Nvidia Cloud Partners (NCPs). The move, according to Bloomberg, is aimed at giving the chipmaker another way to monitor where its AI accelerators are deployed, as Washington grows increasingly frustrated with restricted hardware finding its way into China through regional smuggling networks. Nvidia was not immediately available for comment.

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The NCP designation is worth pursuing as it gives cloud providers Nvidia's public endorsement and preferred access to its sought-after AI chips, putting the company in a position to use those benefits as leverage. …