(Reuters) -China's biggest technology companies have begun the process of switching to homegrown chips as they contend with a dwindling stockpile of Nvidia ( NVDA ) processors and tightening United States export controls, the Financial Times reported on Thursday.

Alibaba ( BABA ), Tencent ( TCTZF ) and Baidu ( BIDU ) are among those starting to test alternative semiconductors to meet growing domestic demand for AI, the report said, citing industry executives.

Reuters could not immediately confirm the report.