Chinese AI startup gets access to 2,300 banned Blackwell GPUs by exploiting cloud loophole — rents compute from Indonesian firm with 32 Nvidia GB200 server racks

A Chinese AI startup, INF Tech, managed to access 2,300 banned Nvidia Blackwell GPUs through a loophole by renting compute power from an Indonesian firm with 32 Nvidia GB200 server racks. The startup, focusing on AI for finance and health, secured the GPUs through a complex chain involving a U.S.-based company and a Chinese tech firm. The deal, valued at around $100 million, is legal as the involved parties are not on the U.S. Entity List. This incident highlights the challenges of regulating tech exports and the potential risks of Chinese access to advanced American hardware.