Despite the ban, China is exploring other avenues, including a "black market" for high-end chips and using AI itself to design computer chips. A team at the Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of Computing Technology in Beijing has developed the first chip to be designed by AI without human input, called Enlightenment-1. However, China's lack of competitiveness in AI could exacerbate what some describe as a brain drain in the country, with many ambitious Chinese students seeking opportunities abroad.
Key takeaways:
- A US ban on selling high-quality computer chips to China is hindering the country's progress in key technologies, particularly in the field of generative artificial intelligence (AI).
- Nvidia, a leading developer of computer chips, saw its market value exceed US$2 trillion for the first time in March, largely due to the global race to produce increasingly powerful chips for AI.
- China's leading competitor to Nvidia, Huawei, is attempting to develop its own AI chips, but is estimated to be five to ten years behind the United States.
- Despite the restrictions, China has made some progress in chip development, with the first chip designed by AI without human input, called Enlightenment-1, being developed in the past year.