Chinese AI companies have been actively seeking robust domestic alternatives following recent restrictions on Nvidia's H20 chip, which had served as a primary AI accelerator readily available in the Chinese market. This month, the U.S. administration, under President Donald Trump, informed Nvidia that future sales of the H20 to Chinese entities would now require an export license, further tightening the supply of advanced AI hardware.
Huawei's 910C graphics processing unit (GPU) is described by sources as an architectural evolution rather than a fundamental technological leap. It reportedly achieves performance metrics comparable to Nvidia's powerful H100 chip by ingeniously integrating two of Huawei's existing 910B processors into a single package through sophisticated integration techniques. This dual-processor configuration effectively doubles the computing power and memory capacity compared to the 910B. The 910C also incorporates incremental improvements, including enhanced support for a wider range of AI workload data types, further bolstering its versatility.
While Huawei declined to comment on what it termed "speculation" regarding its 910C shipment plans and capabilities, the timing of this development is significant. Washington's ongoing efforts to curb China's technological advancements, particularly in areas with military applications, have led to increasingly stringent export controls on Nvidia's most advanced AI products, including its flagship B200 chip. Notably, the H100 chip itself was banned from sale in China by U.S. authorities in 2022, even before its official launch.
These restrictions have inadvertently created a window of opportunity for Huawei and other Chinese GPU startups, such as Moore Threads and Iluvatar CoreX, to compete in a market that has been predominantly dominated by Nvidia for years.
Paul Triolo, a partner at the consulting firm Albright Stonebridge Group, believes that the U.S. Commerce Department’s latest export curbs on Nvidia’s H20 will significantly benefit Huawei. He stated that "Huawei’s Ascend 910C GPU will now become the hardware of choice for (Chinese) AI model developers and for deploying inference capacity."
Sources indicate that Huawei began distributing samples of the 910C to select technology firms and started accepting orders late last year. However, the specific companies primarily involved in the mass production of the 910C remain unconfirmed by Reuters.
Previous reports suggest that China's Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) is involved in manufacturing certain key components of the 910C GPUs, utilizing its N+2 7nm process technology. However, concerns about the yield rates of this advanced process have been raised.
Adding another layer of complexity, one source and a fourth individual suggest that at least some of Huawei’s 910C GPUs incorporate semiconductors manufactured by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) for China-based AI chip designer Sophgo. This revelation comes amidst an ongoing investigation by the U.S. Commerce Department into TSMC's work for Sophgo, following the discovery of a TSMC-made chip in a Huawei 910B processor.
RAND Corporation researcher Lennart Heim, who closely tracks China's AI developments, estimates that TSMC produced nearly three million chips in recent years matching the design ordered by Sophgo. Huawei has firmly denied using TSMC-made Sophgo chips. Sophgo did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
TSMC, in its response, stated that it adheres to all regulatory requirements and has not supplied directly to Huawei since mid-September 2020.
The impending mass shipment of Huawei's 910C chip represents a significant step towards China's self-reliance in critical AI hardware. As international trade dynamics continue to evolve, the success and scalability of Huawei's domestic AI chip production will be crucial in shaping the future landscape of China's rapidly advancing artificial intelligence ecosystem.