Huawei Unveils Laptop With Intel AI Chip Despite US Sanctions

Congressional leaders in the United States are upset at the Biden administration after the sanctioned Chinese telecommunications company Huawei showed a laptop equipped with an Intel AI chip this week.

In 2019, the US placed Huawei on a trade restriction list for breaking Iran sanctions as part of a larger effort to stifle Beijing’s technological achievements. Placement on the list requires the company’s suppliers to obtain a specialized, difficult-to-obtain authorization before shipping to it.

Since 2020, the Trump government has granted Intel a license to export core processors for laptop use to Huawei. China hardliners had asked the Biden administration to remove the license, but many reluctantly agreed that it would expire later this year and not be renewed.

MateBook X Pro with Intel AI Chip

MateBook X Pro with Intel Ai Chip: File Photo

Huawei’s reveal Thursday of its first AI-enabled laptop, the MateBook X Pro, powered by Intel’s latest Core Ultra 9 processor AI chipset, startled and enraged them because it implied that the Commerce Department had allowed Huawei to ship the new chip.

“One of the greatest mysteries in Washington, DC is why the Department of Commerce continues to allow US technology to be shipped to Huawei,” Republican Congressman Michael Gallagher, who chairs the House of Representatives’ China Select Committee, told Reuters.

According to a source familiar with the case, the AI Chips were provided under a preexisting license. According to the source and another individual, they are not subject to the sweeping limitations on AI chip shipments to China.

The Commerce Department and Intel have declined to respond. Huawei did not immediately reply to calls for comment.

The reaction reflects mounting pressure on the Biden administration to do more to prevent Huawei’s expansion, nearly five years after the company was added to a trade restriction list.

In August, it stunned the world with a new phone powered by a complex chip built by sanctioned Chinese chipmaker SMIC. This phone symbolized China’s technical rebirth despite Washington’s continued efforts to damage its ability to develop modern semiconductors.

Cutting-edge AI CPUs with AI chipsets

Intel CEO Patrick Gelsinger: Getty Images

During a Senate subcommittee hearing this week, Kevin Kurland, an export enforcement official, stated that Washington’s restrictions on Huawei have had a “significant impact” on its access to US technology. He also stated that the goal was not to stop Huawei from expanding but to prevent it from misusing US technology for “malign activities.”

However, the words did little to alleviate Republican China hawks’ frustrations following the announcement of Huawei’s new laptop.

“These approvals must stop,” Republican Congressman Michael McCaul told Reuters. “I was told two years ago that Huawei licenses will be discontinued. Today, it does not appear that the policy has changed.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a key driver of innovation across various industries. Intel, a tech behemoth, hasn’t just been observing from the sidelines; it’s actively influencing the future with its cutting-edge AI CPUs with AI chipsets.

Intel’s AI processor range, including the recently announced Gaudi3 and Core Ultra series, is altering the game. These chips are more than simply pieces of silicon; they represent the key to unlocking a world of possibilities in AI applications.

Intel’s AI chipsets are designed to easily tackle difficult jobs, from improving creative workflows to enhancing personal computer security features.

Intel’s AI processors are extremely versatile. These chips are designed to provide optimal performance in edge computing devices and cloud-based applications. This adaptability is critical in today’s technology scene, where it can significantly impact how effectively technology is deployed across many sectors.