Huawei Develops New AI Chip to Compete with Nvidia’s H100 Amid U.S. Export Restrictions
Chinese tech giant Huawei is gearing up to challenge semiconductor leader Nvidia with its latest advanced AI chip, the Ascend 910D. According to sources familiar with the matter, as cited by the Wall Street Journal, Huawei has made significant progress in developing this GPU. The company is actively seeking partnerships with other Chinese firms to test the chip and hopes it can match the performance of Nvidia’s highly regarded H100 series, which is widely used for training AI models. This move by Huawei comes just a few weeks after the United States imposed additional restrictions on the export of certain AI chips to China. These new regulations have created a significant gap in the Chinese AI market, one that Huawei aims to fill with its Ascend 910D. The U.S. restrictions are part of a broader effort to limit China's access to cutting-edge technology, particularly in areas like artificial intelligence. For Huawei, developing a competitive AI chip is not only a strategic move but also a necessity to maintain its technological edge and support domestic AI innovation. If successful, the Ascend 910D could provide a much-needed alternative for Chinese companies currently reliant on imported semiconductors. Huawei’s efforts to create a domestic solution highlight the growing importance of self-sufficiency in the technology sector, especially in the face of geopolitical tensions. The company’s initiative could also have broader implications for the global AI landscape, potentially leading to more diverse and innovative AI hardware solutions. TechCrunch has contacted Huawei for official comments and will update this report if a response is received.
