Huawei to Test New Ascend 910D AI Processor
Huawei Technologies is preparing to test its latest and most powerful artificial intelligence (AI) processor, the Ascend 910D, with ambitions to replace some of the high-end products currently dominated by US chip giantNvidia, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.
Engaging Chinese Tech Companies for Feasibility Tests
Huawei has reportedly approached several Chinese technology firms to test the technical feasibility of the new Ascend 910D chip. According to Reuters, sources familiar with the matter indicated that Huawei expects to receive the first batch of sample processors by late May.
The company aims for the new Ascend chip to outperform Nvidia’s H100, currently one of the most advanced AI training chips globally.
Mass Shipments Expected Soon
In a related development, Reuters reported that Huawei plans to start mass shipments of its advanced Ascend 910C AI chips to Chinese customers as early as next month, signaling an acceleration of China's domestic efforts in AI hardware.
Also read: Huawei’s CloudMatrix 384 Supernode Could Disrupt Global AI Chip Landscape
Battling US Sanctions and Closing the Gap with Nvidia
For years, Huawei and other Chinese tech companies have struggled to match Nvidia’s top-tier capabilities in AI training chips , essential hardware for feeding data to algorithms to improve decision-making models.
Meanwhile, US sanctions have increasingly limited China's access to Nvidia’s cutting-edge products. In particular, the H100 chip was banned from sale in China by US authorities even before its official launch in 2022, as part of efforts to curb China's technological advances, especially for potential military applications.
