DeepSeek trained its latest AI model on Nvidia's most advanced Blackwell chips, a move that potentially violates US export controls, Reuters reported citing a Trump administration official. The Chinese startup's use of the banned chips, primarily used for high-performance computing, represents a significant escalation in tensions over technology access.

While DeepSeek may attempt to obscure the use of American hardware, the revelation underscores Beijing's defiance of Washington's restrictions on tech exports to China. The development highlights the intense global competition in AI development and the lengths companies might go to secure cutting-edge hardware, despite geopolitical risks. US lawmakers are now under pressure to clarify the boundaries of export restrictions, balancing national security concerns with the need to maintain technological leadership.