Analysis of open weights: six models from DeepSeek, Moonshot, MiniMax, and Ant Group released since April carry fingerprints of export-controlled Blackwell GPUs (Will DePue/Unemployment Labs)
Executive Summary — Our forensic analysis of publicly released AI models finds evidence that DeepSeek, Moonshot AI …
A forensic examination of recently released AI models from six companies — DeepSeek, Moonshot AI, MiniMax and Ant Group — has uncovered evidence they utilized NVIDIA's Blackwell GPU hardware, despite export restrictions on these powerful chips to China. The analysis reveals numerical patterns in the models' weights that correspond specifically to Blackwell hardware, while earlier models from the same firms match NVIDIA's preceding Hopper generation.
U.S. officials and press reports have previously suggested DeepSeek and Moonshot AI were using Blackwell chips, though lacking technical proof. The unique fingerprints in the models' weights allow researchers to trace back the hardware and training conditions used to create each model, without relying on leaks or insider information.
The study confirms that Blackwell GPUs were indeed used during training, although it does not pinpoint the exact location of the hardware or the methods employed to gain access.
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