# Top Chinese AI Models Use NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs

> Chinese AI labs use NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs despite export restrictions, according to forensic analysis.
- Title: Top Chinese AI Models Use NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs | Shortify
- Summary: Chinese AI labs use NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs despite export restrictions, according to forensic analysis.
- Keywords: nvidia blackwell, export controls, ai models, deepseek, moonshot ai, ant group, mini max, gpu, hardware fingerprint, training data, Unemployment Labs
- Source: Unemployment Labs — https://unemploymentlabs.com/checkpoint-forensics
- Published: 2026-11-12T00:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: nvidia blackwell, export controls, ai models, deepseek, moonshot ai, ant group, mini max, gpu, hardware fingerprint, training data, technology, startups
## Forensic Evidence
Analysis of six Chinese AI models shows numerical patterns matching NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs despite export restrictions.

> Our forensic analysis of publicly released AI models finds evidence that DeepSeek, Moonshot AI, MiniMax and Ant Group have gained access to NVIDIA’s Blackwell GPUs
## Hardware Fingerprint
Model weights reveal 148 or 152 processor cores matching Blackwell B200/B300 or GB200/GB300 chips.

> DeepSeek-V4-Flash and MiniMax-M3 match NVIDIA’s Blackwell-class B200 or B300 chips, which have 148 processor cores
## Timeline of Models
DeepSeek models switched from Hopper to Blackwell in April 2026; Moonshot AI followed in July 2026.

> DeepSeek’s models read as Hopper-trained through DeepSeek-V3 (released in December 2024), and as Blackwell from DeepSeek V4 (released in April 2026)
## Six Models Affected
DeepSeek-V4-Flash, DeepSeek-V4-Pro, Kimi K3, Kimi K3.1-Pro, MiniMax-M3 and Ling-3.1-flash use Blackwell GPUs.

> Six models from four Chinese labs read as Blackwell-trained
## Training Scale
Each model required 500 to 3,000 Blackwell GPUs for two to three months of training.

> From each model’s size and the amount of data it was trained on, we estimate that each run needed roughly 500 to 3,000 Blackwell GPUs
## AMD Alternative
AMD MI300X could theoretically match Blackwell patterns but evidence shows NVIDIA usage.

> On a physical MI300X, DeepSeek-V4-Flash’s preserved weights point to NVIDIA: in the 377 values where the two vendors’ results differ, the published weight matches NVIDIA’s in 363 and AMD’s in none
## Statistical Evidence
Evidence ranges from 49 to 1,385 sigma, far stronger than random chance.

> The strongest evidence for each of the six models ranges from 49 to 1,385 sigma
## U.S. Export Controls
Blackwell GPUs require U.S. export licenses for China; none have been reported.

> • Requires a U.S. license for export to China; none have been reported
## Verification
Reproduced weights match Blackwell patterns on NVIDIA hardware without modification.

> On the B300, unmodified PyTorch reproduced 461 of the 469 selected rows in DeepSeek-V4-Flash with correlations above 0.99
## Conclusion
Strong evidence suggests six Chinese AI models were initialized on export-controlled NVIDIA hardware.

> Based on our forensic investigation, we believe that we have strong evidence that six Chinese AI models were initialized on export-controlled NVIDIA hardware
## Key takeaway

Six Chinese AI models were initialized on export-controlled NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs, suggesting access to restricted hardware.