This rapid evolution underscores how export controls have sharpened China’s focus on achieving technological self-sufficiency.
The leap from the original Ascend 910 to the upcoming 910D marks one of the fastest development cycles in AI chip history, demonstrating how market isolation, when backed by strong resources, can accelerate innovation.
Huawei’s competition with Nvidia
Huawei and its Chinese counterparts have struggled to match Nvidia’s expertise in designing high-end chips. On the other hand, the United States has already cut off China from using Nvidia’s most advanced AI products, including its flagship B200 chip, with a view to limiting their technological advancements that could aid their military.
The H100 chip, for example, was banned from sale in China in 2022 by U.S. authorities before it was even launched.