Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang recently made his third trip to China in just about half a year, and he had a lot to share with the press during his visit. As the leader and co-founder of the world’s first $4 trillion market cap company, Huang had reasons to be cheerful as Nvidia expected to resume sales of its less advanced H20 artificial intelligence chips to China after a three-month pause.
During a press conference held at a hotel in Beijing, Huang expressed his excitement about the potential resumption of chip sales to China. He mentioned that allowing Nvidia chips into China was likely part of an exchange with the U.S. for Beijing to release much-needed rare earths. Huang also emphasized that many of his competitors are friends in the industry.
Sporting his iconic black leather jacket, Huang entertained questions from reporters in the sunny courtyard of the Mandarin Oriental hotel. He was initially surprised that the press conference was held outside in the scorching heat rather than in an air-conditioned room. Huang graciously signed books and T-shirts for eager fans while addressing the media.
During his visit, Huang met with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and had discussions with Xiaomi founder and CEO Lei Jun. He described Lei Jun as a brilliant businessperson and discussed topics such as artificial intelligence for large language models, autonomous driving, and robotics. Huang also mentioned informing U.S. President Donald Trump about his trip to China during a recent meeting at the White House.
Addressing the issue of export controls, Huang stated that Nvidia expected to resume H20 chip shipments to China following assurances from the U.S. government. He clarified that the decision to lift the ban was out of his control and that Nvidia complies with final policy decisions.
Looking ahead, Huang discussed the impact of U.S. chip restrictions on Nvidia’s market share in China. He expressed hope for selling more advanced chips in China in the future and emphasized the continuous evolution of technology. Despite uncertainties about when chip sales would resume, Huang remained optimistic about the company’s future prospects in the Chinese market.
Huang also acknowledged the capabilities of Chinese tech giant Huawei, highlighting the company’s chip design and AI systems. He praised Huawei’s efforts to develop its own AI-specific technologies and emphasized the company’s ability to compete independently in the market.
In conclusion, Huang commended Chinese AI models and expressed confidence in their potential for growth and innovation. He recognized the excellence of various Chinese AI models and startups, emphasizing the collaborative nature of the industry’s advancements. Overall, Huang’s visit to China highlighted Nvidia’s commitment to the region and its ongoing efforts to navigate global market dynamics. When it comes to AI models, one question that often arises is which one is the most useful. In January, global investors were surprised by the release of the China-developed DeepSeek AI model, which outperformed OpenAI in terms of development and operating costs. Despite facing restrictions on using U.S. chips, DeepSeek’s parent company, High-Flyer, reportedly managed to stockpile Nvidia chips to power their AI model.
One of the key advantages of Chinese AI models, according to Huang, the founder of DeepSeek, is that they are open source. This means that anyone can download the model for free and use it on their own computers. Huang mentioned that many companies from various countries have already downloaded DeepSeek R1 for applications in healthcare, robotics, imaging, and more.
During a press conference, when asked if he would return to China again, Huang expressed his hope to do so, stating that he would need to be invited back. This highlights the collaborative nature of AI development and the importance of international cooperation in advancing technology.
Overall, the success of DeepSeek and other Chinese AI models demonstrates the innovation and capabilities of the Chinese tech industry. By leveraging open source technology and overcoming challenges, these models are shaping the future of AI and driving progress in various industries worldwide.
