Nvidia has reportedly cut its list of approved AI chip buyers in Asia by more than half after introducing stricter compliance checks to curb exports reaching China.
Nvidia has reportedly narrowed the list of Asian companies eligible to purchase its artificial intelligence (AI) chips by introducing a stricter customer approval process aimed at preventing the technology from being diverted to China.
According to a report by the Financial Times, the chipmaker has reduced the number of authorised buyers in Asia by more than half after implementing a “white list” system. Only customers that meet enhanced compliance requirements are allowed to procure Nvidia’s AI processors.
The company has intensified due diligence efforts over the past few months across key Asian markets, including Singapore, Malaysia and Japan. The measures are intended to ensure that advanced AI chips are sold only to verified end users and remain compliant with U.S. export control regulations.
As part of the revised approval process, Nvidia is said to conduct on-site inspections of customers’ data centres, review contractual agreements and verify the identities of end users before approving sales. The additional scrutiny follows growing pressure from the U.S. government to strengthen safeguards around the export of advanced semiconductor technologies.
The Financial Times also reported that the U.S. department of commerce is involved in the oversight process, providing regulatory support for the stricter compliance framework.
The move reflects Nvidia’s continued efforts to comply with U.S. export restrictions designed to limit China’s access to advanced AI hardware. As global demand for AI accelerators continues to rise, semiconductor companies are facing increasing regulatory scrutiny over the sale and distribution of high-performance chips in international markets.
