Huawei plans to test a new AI processor, the Ascend 910D, targeting customers as a potential alternative to Nvidia’s H100 chip, which was banned from export to China in late 2023, The Wall Street Journal reported. The first samples of the 910D are expected next month.
The Chinese tech giant also plans to start shipments of its 910C AI chip to domestic customers in May.
Despite its advances, Huawei is expected to remain limited to 7nm chip production with Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC), according to Richard Windsor of Radio Free Mobile. He noted that Huawei’s accelerated product development reflects China’s urgent push to reduce reliance on Western technology amid growing US-China tensions.
In 2023, Huawei stunned the industry by unveiling the Mate 60 Pro smartphone powered by its in-house Kirin 9000s chipset, produced on a 7nm process by SMIC—a move celebrated in China as a breakthrough against US export restrictions.
Since then, the US has tightened controls on AI chip exports to China, even requiring licences for lower-end models like Nvidia’s H20.
Source: Mobile World Live
