China Weighs Allowing ByteDance and Alibaba to Buy New Nvidia Chips

China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has signaled its intention to allow domestic companies like ByteDance and Alibaba to purchase Nvidia's RTX PRO 5500 chips, according to a report by The Information.

The ministry recently asked these companies to submit their plans for purchasing the high-end professional computer chip, citing two people familiar with the matter.

Some industry executives expect the RTX PRO 5500 chip to avoid US export restrictions due to its intended use in professional computers, rather than gaming products.

Nvidia spokesperson declined to comment on the report, stating that US firms continue to be restricted by outdated export controls and China's own limits on US imports.