Key Points
- Trump met with the CEO of Nvidia to discuss DeepSeek and AI chip restrictions. The U.S. plans to tighten AI chip export rules to limit China’s access.
- DeepSeek’s AI assistant became the top app on Apple’s App Store.
- Nvidia’s stock fell 17% amid concerns over China’s AI progress.
- The U.S. Commerce Department is investigating DeepSeek’s possible use of restricted U.S. chips.
U.S. President Donald Trump met with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang at the White House on Friday to discuss DeepSeek, the Chinese AI company whose rapid rise has shaken the tech industry, and potential new restrictions on AI chip exports. A source familiar with the meeting revealed discussions focused on U.S. technological leadership and measures to limit China’s access to advanced computing power.
While Trump did not provide specific details, he described the meeting as positive, saying, “It was a good meeting.” An Nvidia spokesperson later confirmed the discussion, stating, “Jensen and the President discussed the importance of strengthening U.S. technology and AI leadership.”
The meeting comes as the U.S. government prepares to tighten AI chip export restrictions this spring. The goal is to ensure cutting-edge computing power remains within the country and its allies.
Recent developments in China’s AI sector, particularly DeepSeek’s launch of an AI assistant that reportedly operates at a fraction of the cost of U.S. models, have heightened concerns about America’s competitive edge. Within days of its release, DeepSeek’s app became the most downloaded in Apple’s App Store, triggering a selloff in the tech sector that erased nearly $1 trillion in market value. At one point, Nvidia’s stock alone fell by 17%.
The Trump administration is considering additional restrictions on Nvidia’s H20 AI chips, specifically designed to comply with prior U.S. export rules. According to sources, internal discussions regarding these restrictions have been ongoing since the Biden administration.
Two U.S. lawmakers, Republican John Moolenaar and Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi, have called for stricter export controls on Nvidia’s AI chips. They argue that the U.S. must reassess its export policies in light of China’s rapid AI advancements.
Additionally, the U.S. Commerce Department is investigating whether DeepSeek has accessed restricted U.S. chips in violation of trade regulations. Previous restrictions had already barred Nvidia’s H100 and H800 chips from being sold to China, leading Nvidia to introduce modified versions like the H20 to remain compliant.
