ByteDance accessed Nvidia AI chips through Norway deal
A ByteDance subsidiary gained access to over 2,000 Nvidia B200 AI chips by contracting with UK-based infrastructure firm Nscale, which runs a data center in Norway. Both Tom's Hardware and Sifted report that this arrangement used legal loopholes to bypass ongoing US export controls on advanced chips to China. The Financial Times is cited as saying the transaction was technically permitted but carries regulatory risks for those involved.
- Over 2,000 Nvidia B200 chips were involved
- ByteDance's deal accounted for most of Nscale's revenue
- The chips were accessed via a Norway data center
- Sources say the deal exploited export control loopholes
- Regulatory and reputational risks remain for Nscale
Sources covering this
In this story
More in AI
OpenAI cuts prices with new GPT-6 Sol and Luna models
OpenAI just rolled out two new AI models, GPT-6 Sol and Luna, claiming they're both cheaper and more accurate than the previous versions. The cost for Sol and Luna is now half what you'd pay for the GPT-5.6 versions. Sol is aimed at coding, Luna at clerical work like summarizing documents. OpenAI says the new models make fewer mistakes, with Sol reportedly cutting coding errors by about 50%.
OpenAI rolls out GPT-6 Astra to most paying users
OpenAI has made its new GPT-6 Astra model available to most paying subscribers a day after its official launch. The rollout, initially described as “messy” by OpenAI’s CEO, now includes ChatGPT Plus, Business, Pro, and Enterprise users, while customers on the lower-priced Go tier do not have access. Astra is also available via the API. OpenAI says the rollout required bringing new systems and additional computing resources online.
AI researchers warn of superintelligence risks
Senior AI researchers and former officials have warned that developing artificial superintelligence could carry catastrophic risks. At a UK parliamentary session this week, participants discussed the possibility that AI could pose a threat greater than nuclear weapons, with a top Anthropic scientist stating there's over a 10% chance AI could "kill all humans" within a decade. Lawmakers are considering new legislation to ban superintelligence development.
ChatGPT Images 2.5 adds faster editing tools
OpenAI has updated its ChatGPT Images feature to version 2.5, adding several new editing tools and speeding up image generation. You can now remove backgrounds, resize images to preset dimensions, erase items by brushing over them, and use markup and comment functions directly from a new Edit toolbar. According to TechRadar, the features are available in both web and app versions, though OpenAI hasn't formally announced the rollout yet.