Receptionists at the buildings housing New Matrix and Maginfra said they were unfamiliar with the companies and had never seen anyone working there.
What was released or claimed
Tom's Hardware reported that the offices for both firms appear abandoned, containing only some furniture.reported
Evidence: reported
Two Chinese companies cleared to buy banned Nvidia AI chips have empty offices and unknown addressesaifleet-tomshardware
Who it affects
The scrutiny centers on New Matrix and Maginfra, which were cleared to buy the chips. The investigation also notes approvals for larger entities like Baidu, BYD, Tesla Shanghai, ZTE, Alibaba, Tencent, and ByteDance. Former White House National Security Council China director Liza Tobin expressed concerns about the U.S. Department of Commerce and Nvidia.
What is still unknown
It is unclear who the final customers are for the servers assembled by New Matrix and Maginfra. The New Matrix website reportedly lacks information about its owners or history.
What to make of it
What buyers should weigh
Purchasers should note that approval does not guarantee the legitimacy of a supplier's operations or final users. Buyers may need to verify the physical existence and operational status of vendors before engaging.
Why it matters
- Export control enforcement may be less rigorous than assumed, as indicated by empty offices for approved buyers.
- The lack of public information on company ownership complicates due diligence for technology partners.
- Uncertainty about final users raises questions about the intended destination of high-performance hardware.
Topics: Nvidia, export controls, China, AI chips, due diligence
Updated
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Your choice stays on this device. No public tally.Questions readers ask
Who are the final users of these chips?
It is unclear who the final customers are, as these firms are approved as assemblers, not final users.
What did Liza Tobin say about this situation?
She expressed concerns that the Commerce Department and Nvidia are not doing the necessary due diligence.
Connected stories
Reading receipt
- Offices for New Matrix and Maginfra are empty and unknown to building staff.
- The firms are approved as assemblers, not final users, with unclear customers.
Still open: Who are the final customers for the servers assembled by New Matrix and Maginfra?
Still open: Will the Commerce Department review past approvals in light of these findings?