Huawei challenges Nvidia in global AI chip market
Huawei seeks foothold in AI chip markets across the Middle East and Southeast Asia as Nvidia faces export restrictions in China.
Huawei Technologies is exploring AI chip exports to the Middle East and Southeast Asia in a bid to compete with Nvidia, according to a Bloomberg News report published Thursday.
The Chinese telecom firm has contacted potential buyers in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand to promote its Ascend 910B chips, an earlier-generation AI processor.
The offer involves a limited number of chips, reportedly in the low thousands, although specific quantities remain undisclosed. No deals have been finalised so far. Sources cited in the report said there is limited interest in the UAE, and the status of talks in Thailand remains uncertain.
Government representatives in Thailand and Saudi Arabia did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment. Huawei also declined to comment. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to expand into markets where US chipmakers have long held dominance.
Huawei also promotes remote access to CloudMatrix 384, a China-based AI system built using its more advanced chipsets. However, due to supply limitations, the company cannot export these high-end models outside China.
The Middle East has quickly become a high-demand region for AI infrastructure, attracting interest from leading technology companies. Nvidia has already struck several regional deals, positioning itself as a major player in AI development across Saudi Arabia and neighbouring countries.
Huawei is simultaneously focusing on domestic sales of its newer 910C chips, offering them to Chinese firms that cannot purchase US AI chips due to ongoing export restrictions imposed by Washington.
US administrations have long cited national security concerns in limiting China’s access to cutting-edge chip technologies, fearing their potential use in military applications.
‘With the current export controls, we are effectively out of the China datacenter market, which is now served only by competitors such as Huawei,’ an Nvidia spokesperson told Reuters.
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