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Howard Lutnick Took Softer Line on Nvidia as Calls for Tougher Controls Grew
The New York Times • • business
Key Points:
- Senior Trump administration officials largely agree on tightening controls on Nvidia’s advanced chips to prevent China from advancing in artificial intelligence, but Commerce Department head Howard Lutnick has frequently clashed with them over regulating these sales.
- Lutnick faces accusations from within the administration and Congress of being too close to Nvidia and its CEO Jensen Huang, potentially hindering efforts to restrict chip sales to China.
- Recent revelations that Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang was involved with a woman suspected by U.S. intelligence to be a Chinese spy, linked to a company smuggling Nvidia chips to China, have intensified scrutiny on Lutnick and Nvidia.
- The controversy raises concerns about whether Huang’s influence delayed U.S. actions to limit Nvidia chip sales to Chinese entities, amid high stakes in the U.S.-China AI competition.
- Inside the Commerce Department, Nvidia reportedly receives preferential treatment compared to other firms, with its issues prioritized through specific channels.
