Chinese tech giant Huawei has introduced its new Ascend 910C AI chips to major domestic AI companies, many of which also rely on Nvidia’s products, according to a report from the South China Morning Post. This move comes as Nvidia faces potential further trade restrictions imposed by the US, limiting its ability to sell to China.
While specific details about the Ascend 910C are scarce, it is expected to be a significant upgrade over its predecessor and potentially comparable to Nvidia’s H100 AI chip in terms of computing power. The development of Huawei’s AI chip comes at a critical time for Chinese tech firms, who are increasingly turning to domestic alternatives due to uncertainties around foreign AI equipment availability.
Read More: Xiaomi Mix Flip Now Available for Global Purchase
The latest US trade ban has halted Nvidia’s sales of H20 AI accelerators, designed specifically for the Chinese market, increasing the appeal of Huawei’s new chip. However, Huawei has historically faced production capacity challenges. During the high demand for the previous Ascend 910B, many companies voiced concerns over Huawei’s limited ability to meet supply needs, driving them back to Nvidia’s offerings.
If Huawei can overcome these production bottlenecks and secure a stable supply of its Ascend 910C chips, it has the potential to disrupt Nvidia’s dominance in China’s AI hardware market. The combination of a powerful domestic alternative and ongoing uncertainty around Nvidia’s access to the Chinese market makes Huawei’s AI chip an increasingly viable option for local tech companies.
