Washington: United States authorities are investigating allegations that advanced artificial intelligence chips made by Nvidia were secretly moved through Thailand and later supplied to Chinese technology firms, including Alibaba Group, raising fresh concerns over the enforcement of US export restrictions on high end semiconductor technology.
The issue came into focus after a Bloomberg News report said American officials suspect that servers containing restricted Nvidia chips were routed through a Thailand based company before reaching China. The report has intensified attention on possible loopholes in the global technology supply chain at a time when Washington is trying to block China from accessing powerful AI hardware.
According to the report, the company under scrutiny is OBON Corp, a Thai technology firm connected to the country’s growing artificial intelligence sector. US investigators reportedly believe the company may have purchased billions of dollars worth of AI servers from Super Micro Computer Inc during 2024 and 2025. The servers are said to contain advanced Nvidia processors that are restricted from direct export to China under current US trade rules.
American officials suspect that some of these systems may eventually have been delivered to Chinese customers, including Alibaba. Reuters reported that it could not independently verify the allegations, and there has been no official response from Nvidia, Alibaba or Thai authorities regarding the claims.
The investigation highlights the increasing challenges faced by the United States in controlling the movement of advanced semiconductor technology across international markets. Washington has tightened export restrictions over the past several years to stop China from gaining access to cutting edge AI chips that could be used in military systems, surveillance technologies and other strategic industries.
The United States government believes advanced AI technology has national security importance, especially as artificial intelligence becomes more powerful and influential in global competition. Nvidia’s high performance chips are considered among the most important tools for training advanced AI models, making them highly sought after around the world.
However, analysts say enforcing export controls has become more difficult as technology supply chains stretch across many countries. Southeast Asian nations such as Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore have become important hubs for electronics manufacturing, cloud infrastructure and data center operations. This has raised concerns among US officials that some companies may be using third countries to bypass restrictions.
Reports in recent months have suggested that Chinese firms continue to access restricted AI hardware through overseas cloud services, intermediaries and unofficial trade networks. The latest investigation is likely to increase pressure on companies involved in global semiconductor sales to strengthen compliance systems and carefully track the final destination of sensitive technology.
The case also comes at a sensitive moment for Nvidia, which has seen enormous growth due to rising global demand for artificial intelligence systems. Although the company has followed US export rules by creating modified products for the Chinese market, China remains an important customer base for the American chipmaker.
Industry experts say the investigation could lead to even stricter US regulations on technology exports to parts of Southeast Asia if officials conclude that the region is being used as a transit route for restricted products. Some reports indicate that American authorities are already studying possible new controls on AI related exports to certain countries in the region.
At the same time, China continues to invest heavily in domestic semiconductor production and artificial intelligence research in an effort to reduce dependence on foreign technology. Chinese technology giants such as Alibaba and Tencent are expanding AI projects despite growing trade barriers and geopolitical tensions.
US prosecutors have not announced any direct charges against Alibaba in connection with the investigation. Officials are expected to continue reviewing shipping records, customs data and company transactions as the inquiry moves forward.
The latest developments show how the global race for artificial intelligence technology is becoming increasingly linked with international trade, security concerns and diplomatic tensions between major world powers.