Nvidia CEO Urges US to Engage AI Developers Globally, Starting with China

Nvidia's CEO, Jensen Huang, has stressed the importance of winning over AI developers globally, particularly those in China, to maintain U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence. In an episode of "Memos to the President" published on Monday, Huang emphasized that the success of the American tech stack, from semiconductors to cloud platforms, hinges on broad international adoption. Huang noted that about 50% of the world's AI developers are in China, highlighting the need for the U.S. to engage with this massive talent pool. "The first job of any platform is to win all developers," he said, adding that developers now come from diverse regions including Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, reflecting the global spread of AI technology. He argued that ensuring developers worldwide build on the "American tech stack" is crucial, just as the U.S. dollar serves as the global financial standard. According to Huang, expanding the reach of American technology will attract more developers, fostering a robust and influential AI ecosystem. "The more your technology is everywhere, the more developers you're going to have," he added. In support of this strategy, Nvidia announced on Tuesday that it will resume selling its advanced H20 chips to China. The U.S. government has assured Nvidia that licenses will be granted for these sales, with deliveries expected to start soon. This decision reverses prior restrictions imposed by the Trump administration, which had banned advanced chip exports to China, potentially costing Nvidia billions in revenue. Huang's comments reflect a broader critique of the U.S.'s approach to AI competition with China. He has previously stated that China's AI market is thriving, with homegrown models like DeepSeek and Manus emerging as credible competitors to U.S.-developed systems. Huang praised the skills of Chinese AI researchers, noting that they are among the world's best, which is why companies like OpenAI and Anthropic are actively hiring them. At the Computex Taipei tech conference in May, Huang elaborated on the intensity of competition from China. He pointed out that U.S. export controls intended to slow China's AI development have had the opposite effect, energizing Chinese efforts and increasing government support. "The export control is a failure; it gave them the spirit, the energy, and the government support to accelerate their development," Huang said. Huang's stance aligns with his vision of the American tech stack becoming the global standard. By lifting restrictions and facilitating global cooperation, the U.S. can better position itself to attract and retain talent, drive innovation, and compete effectively in the AI landscape. Industry insiders agree that Huang's strategy of engagement and expansion, rather than restriction, could be key to maintaining the U.S.'s competitive edge in AI. This approach also underscores Nvidia's commitment to serving a global market, despite geopolitical tensions.