Nvidia has firmly rejected accusations from Chinese state media that its H20 AI chips contain a “kill switch” capable of remotely deactivating the hardware. Tensions couldn’t be worse right now in terms of US and China relations. This tit-for-tat dispute is now largely fueled by semiconductor export controls and other national security considerations. The claims, highlighted by Chinese state media outlet Yuyuan Tantian, characterized Nvidia’s H20 chips as technologically inferior and potentially hazardous compared to the company’s other offerings.
The controversy specifically flared up when reports emerged about the new H20 chip. They claimed it contained a “backdoor” that could be exploited to create remote shutdown capabilities. In a statement addressing these allegations, a Nvidia spokesperson emphasized the company’s commitment to cybersecurity, asserting, “NVIDIA does not have ‘backdoors’ in our chips that would give anyone a remote way to access or control them.”
Nvidia’s H20 chip has been at the center of U.S.-China relations, particularly following the Trump administration’s ban on shipments of these chips in April. In a major shift recently, Nvidia began again fulfilling shipments, aiming to profit off of its huge market share in China. CEO Jensen Huang certainly doesn’t want to give Nvidia’s last new chip to the country. He argues that setting up Nvidia’s chips as the global standard for AI computing increases U.S. market supremacy and leverage over how AI is developed.
Though H20 shipments have resumed, the rift between the U.S. and China is far from closed. U.S. export controls seek to inhibit Beijing’s ability to access and utilize advanced chips. This whole-of-government effort aims to stop China’s lead in AI and military applications. The Chinese government in turn is applying intense pressure to relax controls over high-bandwidth memory chips. They view this as an essential step for continued constructive discussion on trade ahead of an anticipated meeting between President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping.
In response, Chinese state media has taken a rather consistent approach to the issue of Nvidia’s products. Yuyuan Tantian stated, “When a type of chip is neither environmentally friendly, nor advanced, nor safe, as consumers, we certainly have the option not to buy it.” This attitude is part of a larger wave of distrust in China towards foreign tech companies during a time of rising trade conflict.