NVIDIA Develops Chip Location Verification Technology To Solve Smuggling Problems

NVIDIA develops special technology for chip location detectors (photo: dock. NVIDIA)

JAKARTA NVIDIA is building advanced location verification technology for its GPU. Reportedly, this technology was developed to help track the presence of its chips while operating.

This feature is designed to prevent the smuggling of its artificial intelligence (AI) chips into countries subject to US export bans. According to Reuters, this feature, which is still in the closed demonstration stage, will be software.

"We are in the process of implementing a new software service that empowers data center operators to monitor the health and inventory of their entire AI GPU fleet," NVIDIA said, quoted on Wednesday, December 10.

This installable software takes advantage of NVIDIA's graphics Processing Unit (GPU)'s confidential computing capabilities. Basically, this software allows customers to monitor the overall computing performance of chips in large data centers.

NVIDIA explained that this system can provide an overview of locations that are equivalent to other internet-based services. The goal is to provide location information without compromising data or product security.

NVIDIA added that this customer-installable software agent utilizes GPU telemetry to monitor fleet health, integrity and inventory. This feature will be first available on the latest Blackwell chip.

This feature is a response to pressure from the White House and members of the US Congress to tighten anti-smuggling efforts. However, this location verification request also caught the attention of cybersecurity regulators in China.

They had called NVIDIA to ask if the product had a backdoor that would allow the US to bypass chip security features. NVIDIA categorically denies any backdoor on its chips.