Daijiworld Media Network - New York

New York, Oct 11: A contractor linked to Super Micro Computer has pleaded guilty to conspiring to illegally export computer servers containing advanced Nvidia artificial intelligence chips to China, according to a federal court filing.

Ting-Wei “Willy” Sun pleaded guilty to four counts, including conspiracy to violate US export controls, smuggle goods from the United States, defraud the country and obstruct justice. He entered the plea on Thursday in the US District Court in Manhattan.

In March, prosecutors charged Sun and two others associated with Super Micro, including a co-founder of the AI-server maker, with conspiring to divert around $2.5 billion worth of US artificial intelligence technology to China in violation of export laws.

According to the indictment, the alleged scheme began around October 2023, when Sun and others conspired to export servers from a US manufacturer to China without the required licences.

The indictment identified Nvidia's B200, H100 and H200 graphics processing units, along with servers containing these chips, as products covered by US export restrictions.

Washington has restricted exports of advanced AI chips to China, citing national security concerns. The restrictions come amid growing competition between the United States and China for leadership in artificial intelligence, a technology considered important for economic growth, national security and military capabilities.