A White House official has said Chinese company Moonshot AI accessed Nvidia's GB300 chips in Thailand, according to CNBC, raising questions about the reach of US export controls on advanced AI hardware. Details of how the access occurred have not been disclosed.
Key facts
- A White House official said Moonshot AI accessed Nvidia's GB300 chips in Thailand, according to CNBC.
- Moonshot AI released its Kimi K3 model last week, which CNBC described as powerful.
- CNBC reported the account within the context of restrictions on China's access to advanced Nvidia hardware.
- The claim was reported by CNBC on 23 July 2026.
A White House official has said that Moonshot AI, a Chinese artificial intelligence company, accessed Nvidia’s GB300 chips in Thailand, according to CNBC. The official’s account suggests the company may have obtained access to advanced hardware that is subject to US export restrictions.
Moonshot AI drew attention last week when it released its Kimi K3 model, which CNBC described as powerful. The release has brought scrutiny to how the company sourced the computing hardware needed to develop such systems.
According to the White House official cited by CNBC, the access to Nvidia’s GB300 chips took place in Thailand, outside the jurisdiction where US restrictions apply directly.
CNBC reported the account against the backdrop of measures intended to limit Chinese firms’ ability to obtain cutting-edge Nvidia hardware.
The reported details remain limited. The source material does not specify how the chips were accessed, the quantity involved, or what response, if any, US authorities or Nvidia may take. Moonshot AI and Nvidia have not been reported as commenting on the claim.
Why it matters
US export controls are designed to slow China's access to the most advanced AI chips, and reports of possible workarounds test whether those rules are effective. If a leading Chinese AI firm can reach top-tier Nvidia hardware through a third country, it raises questions about enforcement and the wider chip race.
Frequently asked questions
What chips did Moonshot AI reportedly access?
According to a White House official cited by CNBC, Moonshot AI accessed Nvidia's GB300 chips.
Where did the alleged access take place?
CNBC reported that the access occurred in Thailand.
What is Kimi K3?
Kimi K3 is a model that Moonshot AI released last week, described by CNBC as powerful. Further details were not provided in the source.