The answer is **They rewrote the underlying code**. Unable to brute force the problem with raw hardware power they were forced to invent a more efficient architecture. They specifically optimized "Mixture of Experts" techniques that require significantly fewer chips to run. It is the ultimate Sanctions Paradox. By restricting their hardware US regulators inadvertently forced them to master superior software. Now that lean software is outcompeting the bloated models built on abundant US hardware.