China cites ‘backdoor safety risk’ in Nvidia’s H20 AI chip; company denies allegation

Chinese authorities have summoned Nvidia over alleged security vulnerabilities in its H20 AI chip, citing “serious security risks” and concerns about potential backdoors that could allow remote access or tracking. The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) questioned Nvidia representatives and requested documentation to clarify these issues. Nvidia has denied the allegations, affirming that their chips contain no such backdoors. This investigation comes amid stalled trade talks between Washington and Beijing and could delay Nvidia’s efforts to resume sales of the H20 chip in China, complicating the company’s market position. The scrutiny of Nvidia’s H20 chip aligns with China’s broader strategy to reduce reliance on U.S. semiconductor technology and promote domestic alternatives, such as Huawei’s Ascend 910C chip, which is gaining traction for AI workloads. The H20 was designed to comply with U.S. export restrictions, and its sales resumption was seen as a potential breakthrough in easing trade tensions. However, the current probe and regulatory uncertainty highlight ongoing geopolitical and