The Trump administration is intensifying its strategy to curb China’s technological rise with new measures affecting both software and hardware, in a geopolitical conflict with deep implications for the future of global artificial intelligence.
Artificial intelligence has become the new axis of tension between the world’s two leading powers. According to The New York Times, the Trump administration is considering officially banning the use of the AI chatbot DeepSeek, developed in China, and one of the most advanced in the Asian technology ecosystem. This measure would add to the existing hardware restrictions that prevent the export of high-performance chips like NVIDIA H20 GPUs to the Asian country.
This time, the U.S. government is going a step further. The offensive reaches software and also extends to American companies. Alongside the potential ban on DeepSeek, Congress has opened an investigation into NVIDIA, accusing it of indirectly facilitating the development of this artificial intelligence by providing processing technology in Asia, which could constitute a violation of export regulations for sensitive technologies.
AI as a National Security Issue
Washington’s fear is not new, but it is growing: that China taking the lead in artificial intelligence would have profound consequences for both national security and global technological hegemony. The White House sees tools like DeepSeek as a potential threat, not only for its ability to compete with major Western models but also for its possible military use or integration into critical communication networks and infrastructure.
Official sources quoted by The New York Times have justified the move by stating:
“China’s advances in AI pose a direct challenge to American leadership. If their access to key technology is not limited, they could surpass us in strategic capabilities such as the design of autonomous weapons or the deployment of global surveillance networks.”
An Ecosystem Under Pressure: NVIDIA at the Center of the Storm
NVIDIA’s position in this new phase of the conflict is significant. Considered the world’s leading supplier of AI chips, its products—especially the H100 series and variants like the H20 specifically designed to circumvent restrictions—have been essential for training large models worldwide, including in China.
The recent decision by the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party to investigate NVIDIA represents a turning point. For the first time, an American company faces congressional scrutiny for its possible role in China’s technological advancement.
Although DeepSeek claims it currently uses hardware from Huawei, it is widely recognized that its initial models were trained on NVIDIA GPUs before the current restrictions went into effect.
The Paradox of the Tech War: Is China Strengthening?
Ironically, attempts to curb China may be achieving the opposite effect. The inability to access Western hardware has spurred significant investment in domestic solutions. Companies like Huawei and the Chinese semiconductor ecosystem have received unprecedented boosts, aiming for self-sufficiency in AI at all levels—from chip manufacturing to software development and foundational models.
Meanwhile, the U.S. is debating to what extent these restrictions could harm its own tech companies. NVIDIA, for example, has lost access to one of the largest markets in the world. Other firms in the sector—like AMD, Intel, or Google Cloud—could follow the same path if restrictions are further expanded.
What Would a Ban on DeepSeek Entail?
The proposal from the Trump administration would involve banning the use of DeepSeek nationwide, removing the app from major stores like the App Store and Google Play, and blocking web access from U.S. servers. It would also reinforce the existing ban on use in government devices.
These measures aim not only to curb the expansion of DeepSeek but also to send a clear message: the United States will not tolerate technology deemed “strategic” being developed or used without oversight within its borders.
A Conflict Without an End in Sight
The tech war between the U.S. and China shows no signs of slowing down. AI has become a central piece of this new contested global order, where not only economic benefits are at stake, but also geopolitical influence, control over data, and military power.
As China accelerates its investment in domestic technologies, the United States hardens its stance in the name of national security. The DeepSeek-NVIDIA case is merely the latest chapter in a story that will define the digital future of the planet.
Conclusion
The confrontation between the powers for supremacy in artificial intelligence is crossing new frontiers. The measures against DeepSeek and the pressure on NVIDIA reflect how far technology has ceased to be neutral and become a tool of power. What was once resolved in labs and data centers is now determined in government offices and congressional committees. And all indications are that the battle for global AI has just begun.
Reference: Artificial Intelligence News