China’s Moonshot AI Seeks Access to Nvidia’s Advanced Blackwell Chips Through European Data Centres
The Chinese artificial intelligence company is reportedly negotiating deals to rent computing power from European data centres, potentially bypassing US restrictions on advanced semiconductor technology.
Moonshot AI, the Chinese company behind the Kimi family of artificial intelligence models, has reportedly sought access to Nvidia’s advanced Blackwell processors through data centres in Europe. According to a CNBC report published on November 5, the company has discussed leasing computing capacity from European cloud infrastructure providers that operate facilities equipped with Nvidia’s powerful graphics processing units (GPUs). The negotiations involve four sources familiar with the discussions.
Three sources indicated that Moonshot was particularly interested in accessing Nvidia’s Blackwell systems, which are subject to US export restrictions that effectively prevent their direct shipment into China. Discussions reportedly included access to clusters containing 8,000 or more Blackwell GPUs. Two sources said the company was interested in computing capacity for inference, which allows AI models to respond to users, while another indicated that training capacity was also being considered.
The reported strategy highlights a potential loophole in American export restrictions. Although the United States restricts the shipment of advanced Nvidia processors into China, Chinese companies can potentially access their computing capabilities remotely through overseas data centres. One source familiar with the negotiations said Moonshot had considered paying between 30 and 50 per cent more upfront than non-Chinese customers to secure computing capacity. The White House had previously accused Moonshot of accessing restricted Nvidia Blackwell chips through a facility in Thailand.
Founded in 2023, Moonshot AI has become an increasingly important competitor in China’s artificial intelligence industry through its Kimi models. The company has previously experienced computing capacity shortages following strong demand for its AI products. Greater access to Nvidia’s advanced processors could strengthen its ability to develop and operate more sophisticated models, increasing competition with American companies such as OpenAI and Anthropic. The developments could also intensify pressure on Washington to strengthen regulations governing overseas cloud access to restricted semiconductor technology.
