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Trump Suggests Allowing Scaled-Down Nvidia AI Chips Sales to China Amid Security Concerns

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U.S. President Donald Trump signaled on Monday that he may permit Nvidia to sell a reduced-performance version of its next-generation Blackwell AI chips in China, raising alarms in Washington about Beijing’s potential access to cutting-edge computing power.

Trump told reporters that Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang had discussed a “somewhat enhanced-in-a-negative-way Blackwell,” explaining it would carry 30–50% less computing power than the U.S. flagship model. “That will be an unenhanced version of the big one,” Trump said, suggesting the proposal remains under review.

The Trump administration also confirmed an unprecedented deal with Nvidia and AMD that requires them to give the U.S. government 15% of revenue from China chip sales. The move follows last month’s approval for Nvidia’s H20 chips, a lower-performance variant developed under Biden-era export restrictions, to resume shipping to China.

Security experts warn the policy could still advance Beijing’s AI capabilities. Saif Khan, a former White House tech security director, cautioned that China could buy enough scaled-down Blackwell chips to build frontier-level AI supercomputers, potentially leapfrogging U.S. progress.

Currently, the H20 is the most advanced chip allowed for Chinese markets, though Trump called it “obsolete,” noting Beijing already has access. Nvidia unveiled its flagship Blackwell chip in March, boasting performance up to 30 times faster than its predecessor.

While Nvidia has not confirmed a China-only Blackwell variant, Reuters reported in May that a lower-cost, scaled-down version was being prepared. China’s foreign ministry did not immediately comment.

Meanwhile, critics highlight Trump’s unusual interventions in corporate strategy, from demanding revenue-sharing to pressuring Intel’s CEO Lip-Bu Tan to resign over his ties to Chinese firms. The Commerce Department has begun issuing licenses for H20 exports, insisting national security remains safeguarded.

Nvidia and AMD both stated they will comply with U.S. rules, while China has accused Washington of using tech restrictions to “maliciously contain and suppress” its development.

Deutsche Telekom Teams Up with Nvidia and Brookfield to Build AI Data Centre in Germany

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Deutsche Telekom is collaborating with Nvidia and Canadian private equity firm Brookfield to develop one of the European Union’s major AI “gigafactories” in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, CEO Tim Hoettges announced following the company’s Q2 earnings call.

While negotiations with North Rhine-Westphalia officials are ongoing, no final site decision has been made yet. The company is prioritizing locations with existing infrastructure approvals for electricity and water, aiming for a swift start once the site is confirmed. Hoettges mentioned ongoing discussions with energy provider RWE as part of the process.

Earlier this year, Deutsche Telekom had partnered with SAP, web hosting firm Ionos, and retailer Schwarz for EU data centre bids, though recent reports indicate these companies are now pursuing separate proposals. Hoettges emphasized healthy competition within Germany’s data centre market, dismissing speculation of joining other consortia.

The planned AI data centre aligns with growing efforts to boost European AI infrastructure capacity, with Deutsche Telekom positioning itself alongside key tech and investment partners to capitalize on surging AI demand.

AMD and Super Micro Shares Slide as AI Growth Expectations Dim After Data Center Results Miss

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Shares of Advanced Micro Devices (AMD.O) and server maker Super Micro Computer (SMCI.O) fell sharply in early trading Wednesday after both companies reported weaker-than-expected results in their data center segments, casting doubt on their AI growth prospects and competitive standing. AMD shares dropped 5.1%, while Super Micro plummeted 18.2%, with the latter potentially losing over $6 billion in market value.

AMD’s data center revenue, driven by Instinct AI chips and server CPUs, grew 14% to $3.2 billion in Q2—slightly below analyst forecasts—and lagged far behind rival Nvidia’s 73% jump to $39.11 billion in the same segment. Jefferies analysts said the AI outlook failed to deliver the strong upside some investors anticipated. CEO Lisa Su cited U.S. export restrictions on AMD’s MI308 AI chips to China as a factor in year-over-year AI revenue declines, with no clear timeline for lifting those limits. HSBC noted that expectations for revenue recovery from lifting export restrictions appear muted.

The chip sector faces additional risks from impending U.S. tariffs on semiconductor imports and supply chain vulnerabilities tied to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), which produces AMD’s advanced 3-nanometer wafers. Analyst Michael Ashley Schulman warned any slowdown at TSMC could disproportionately impact AMD.

Super Micro missed Q4 estimates amid intense competition from larger server makers Dell and HP, suffering from execution issues and Nvidia chip supply delays. Analyst Gil Luria of D.A. Davidson noted signs of market share loss. While over 70% of Super Micro’s Q4 revenue is linked to AI platforms, the company’s margins remain pressured by high AI server production costs and fierce rivalry. Bank of America analysts highlighted ongoing uncertainty over the gross margin impact this quarter.

Super Micro CEO Charles Liang expressed optimism about improved chip availability driving better growth going forward. Dell’s shares also declined 1.7% on the news.

AMD trades at a forward price-to-earnings multiple of 32.39, compared to Super Micro’s 19.69.