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Ex-OpenAI researcher finds Nvidia Blackwell chips in Chinese AI models

A former OpenAI researcher claims to have discovered technical evidence indicating that six Chinese AI models are utilizing Nvidia's Blackwell GPUs. Will DePue's analysis suggests that models from DeepSeek, Moonshot AI, MiniMax, and Ant Group are employing this advanced hardware, which is subject to US export controls. DePue estimates that the computing power used for training these models represents an investment exceeding half a billion dollars. AI

IMPACT This finding could have significant implications for US export control policies and the competitive landscape of AI development.

RANK_REASON The item reports on claims made by a former researcher regarding the use of specific hardware in AI models, rather than an official announcement or a direct industry event.

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AI-generated summary · Google Gemini · from 1 sources. How we write summaries →

Ex-OpenAI researcher finds Nvidia Blackwell chips in Chinese AI models

How we ranked this

Signal score
11 / 100
Composite score across the factors below. Higher = stronger signal that this story matters right now.
Newsworthiness bucket
Commentary
The item reports on claims made by a former researcher regarding the use of specific hardware in AI models, rather than an official announcement or a direct industry event.
Source corroboration
Single-source cluster
Only one publisher covered this so far. Single-source stories can still rank when the publisher is high-authority, but they lack cross-source corroboration.
Topics
policy, infra
Editorial topic classification. Feeds into how the story surfaces on /topic/<slug> hub pages and into the per-entity coverage mix.
AI-industry relevance
High
Clearly on-topic for AI-industry coverage.
Story freshness
Breaking (< 6h)
Fresh story with cross-source coverage still developing. Ranking may shift as more sources report.

Full methodology in our editorial standards.

COVERAGE [1]

  1. The Decoder TIER_1 English(EN) · Maximilian Schreiner ·

    Former OpenAI researcher says he found Nvidia Blackwell fingerprints hidden inside six Chinese AI models

    <p><img alt="" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" height="768" src="https://the-decoder.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/china_vs_usa_ai_race.png" style="height: auto; margin-bottom: 10px;" width="1376" /></p> <p> Former OpenAI researcher Will DePue says he has produce…