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Insight and Technology

Chip shortages are producing winners and losers in the AI gold rush

The high-powered chips required for training the most advanced artificial intelligences are in short supply, with big firms winning out over academics and activists

By Matthew Sparkes

22 August 2023

Nvidia is the world’s leading manufacturer of graphics processing units

Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

In the AI gold rush, chip-makers are selling shovels – and they are in short supply. As the latest generation of artificial intelligence models like ChatGPT look set to transform our lives, the hardware that makes it all possible is becoming a strategic asset, with countries, companies and researchers all scrabbling to get hold of supplies. With talk of shortages lasting until at least next year, some would-be AI developers face being left behind.

At the centre of this is Nvidia,…

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