Huawei Technologies is preparing to test its newest and most powerful artificial-intelligence processor, the Ascend 910D, in an effort to replace some of Nvidia’s higher-end products, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.
The Chinese tech giant has approached several Chinese companies to test the technical feasibility of the new chip, people familiar with the matter told the Journal. Huawei is hoping that the Ascend 910D will be more powerful than Nvidia’s H100 processor and is expected to receive its first batch of samples as early as late May.
This development comes as Huawei and its Chinese peers have struggled to match Nvidia’s top-end chips for training AI models. The U.S. has imposed restrictions on China’s access to Nvidia’s most advanced AI products, including its flagship B200 chip, citing concerns about China’s technological advancements and their potential military applications.
For instance, the H100 chip was banned from sale in China in 2022 by U.S. authorities before it was even launched. This move has driven Chinese companies to develop their own AI chips, with Huawei being at the forefront of this effort.
Huawei’s plans to mass ship its advanced 910C artificial intelligence chip to Chinese customers are also underway, with shipments expected to begin as early as next month, Reuters reported on Monday.
Nvidia declined to comment on the matter, while Huawei did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
