Three men affiliated with server manufacturer Super Micro Computer Inc. have been charged with conspiring to smuggle advanced artificial intelligence chips to China in violation of U.S. export controls, federal authorities announced Thursday.

The defendants include a senior vice president of Supermicro and a co-founder of the company, according to court documents. The charges stem from allegations that the men conspired to export billions of dollars worth of computer servers containing advanced Nvidia chips to China without proper licensing.

U.S. export controls currently prohibit the sale of certain advanced semiconductor chips to China without obtaining specific government licenses. The restrictions are part of broader efforts to limit China's access to cutting-edge technology that could have military or strategic applications.

Supermicro is a major manufacturer of computer servers and storage systems used in data centers worldwide. The company's products often incorporate high-performance chips from Nvidia, which are particularly valued for artificial intelligence and machine learning applications.

The case highlights ongoing tensions between the United States and China over technology transfer and export controls. Federal prosecutors have increasingly pursued cases involving alleged violations of semiconductor export restrictions as part of broader national security initiatives.