Chinese AI chip firms blacklisted over weapons concerns gained access to UK technology
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Imagination Technologies had licences with two Chinese firms - but said it had not ‘implemented transactions’ that would enable to use of technology for military purposes. Chinese engineers developing chips for artificial intelligence that can be used in “advanced weapons systems” have gained access to cutting-edge UK technology, the Guardian can reveal.
Described by analysts as “China’s premier AI chip designers”, Moore Threads and Biren Technology are subject to US export restrictions over their development of chips that “can be used to provide artificial intelligence capabilities to further development of weapons of mass destruction, advanced weapons systems and hi-tech surveillance applications that create national security concerns”.
However, prior to the US blacklisting in 2023, the two companies secured extensive licences with the UK-based Imagination Technologies, which is among a handful of firms worldwide that design an advanced type of microchip crucial for AI systems, and is regarded as a jewel of the UK’s technology industry.
A spokesperson for Imagination said: “At no stage has Imagination (or its owners) considered or implemented transactions with third parties with the aim of enabling China or any other nation state to use or direct Imagination technology for state or military end uses.”.
While Imagination’s representatives confirmed the existence of the licences with Moore Threads and Biren Technology, they denied claims that the company, under the ownership of a private equity fund backed with Chinese state money, sought to deliberately transfer its state-of-the-art secrets to China.
