Alice Huang-linked firms invested in DeepSeek to supply restricted Nvidia chips, report says
Companies tied to Alice Huang participated in DeepSeek's $15.8 billion funding round with pledges to provide banned Nvidia Blackwell chips, according to The Information.
A network of companies tied to Alice Huang invested in Chinese artificial intelligence lab DeepSeek as part of an effort to supply the startup with Nvidia Blackwell processors, The Information reported. Sales of Nvidia's advanced Blackwell chips to China are prohibited under U.S. export controls.[2][3][4][6]
DeepSeek employees pitched firms linked to Huang and her family to investors as a substantial supplier of black-market Nvidia AI chips, helping secure them an allocation in DeepSeek's $15.8 billion funding round. The entities invested through special purpose vehicles to remain off DeepSeek's official shareholder registry. DeepSeek is reportedly developing its next flagship model using thousands of Blackwell chips.[2][6]
The transactions follow wider reports on chip flows tied to Huang's network. Litong, a company connected to Huang, has imported 240,000 Nvidia chips valued at at least $7.5 billion into China since 2023 despite export restrictions. In addition, a Chinese company linked to Huang's family disclosed it had attained Nvidia preferred cloud partner status two weeks after Washington banned Nvidia's A800 and H800 chips.[1][3]
Key facts
- Companies tied to Alice Huang invested in DeepSeek's funding round, which valued the Chinese AI lab at approximately $15.8 billion.
- The investments were aimed at supplying DeepSeek with Nvidia Blackwell chips, which are barred from sale to China under U.S. export controls.
- DeepSeek employees pitched Huang-linked companies to investors as a major supplier of black-market Nvidia AI chips to win them a slot in the funding round.
- The firms invested through special purpose vehicles to avoid appearing on DeepSeek's shareholder list.
- DeepSeek is reportedly building its next major AI model on thousands of Nvidia Blackwell chips.
- Litong, an entity linked to Huang, reportedly imported 240,000 Nvidia chips worth at least $7.5 billion into China since 2023 despite trade controls.
- A Chinese firm connected to Huang's family disclosed becoming an Nvidia preferred cloud partner two weeks after Washington banned A800 and H800 chips.
Sources · 5 sources
- TI
The Information@theinformationPost on X ·
Exclusive: Two weeks after Washington banned the A800 and H800, a Chinese company tied to Alice Huang's family disclosed it had become an Nvidia preferred cloud partner. Full story: https://t.co/eIfuWOb2LR
Open source - UW
unusual_whales@unusual_whalesPost on X ·
BREAKING: Companies tied to Alice Huang invested in DeepSeek and promised to supply it with Nvidia chips, The Information reports. The firms reportedly invested in DeepSeek’s latest funding round, valued at about $15.8 billion, as part of a pitch to help the Chinese AI lab get Nvidia’s Blackwell chips. US export rules bar those chips from China. DeepSeek is reportedly building its next major model on thousands of Blackwell chips.
Open source - WS
Wall St Engine@wallstenginePost on X ·
Companies tied to Alice Huang invested in DeepSeek's $15.8B round to help supply it with banned Nvidia Blackwell chips, The Information reports. Litong, linked to Huang, reportedly imported 240,000 Nvidia chips worth at least $7.5B into China since 2023 despite export controls. https://t.co/GXtJuO9tM8
Open source - TE
TechmemeArticle ·
Sources: firms tied to Alice Huang recently invested in DeepSeek, to forge closer ties and supply Nvidia's Blackwell chips, which are banned from sale to China (The Information) The Information : Sources: firms tied to Alice Huang recently invested in DeepSeek, to forge closer ties and supply Nvidia's Blackwell chips, which are banned from sale to China — The network of companies tied to Alice Huang, the alleged Chinese spy in a romantic relationship with Nvidia's former CEO Jensen Huang …
Open source - *B
*Walter Bloomberg@DeItaonePost on X ·
$NVDA - ALICE HUANG’S COMPANIES' INVESTMENT AIMS TO SECURE NVIDIA BLACKWELL CHIP SUPPLY FOR DEEPSEEK - THE INFORMATION
Open source - TI
The Information@theinformationPost on X ·
Exclusive: DeepSeek employees pitched companies tied to Alice Huang and her family to investors as a substantial supplier of black-market Nvidia AI chips. That pitch helped win the companies a slot in DeepSeek’s $15.8 billion funding round, and they invested through special purpose vehicles that keep them off its shareholder list. Full story: https://t.co/7utxNDRyyj
Open source