Huawei to Begin Mass Shipments of 910C AI Chip as China Seeks Nvidia Alternatives

Huawei Technologies is preparing to launch mass shipments of its 910C artificial intelligence chip to Chinese customers as early as May 2025, according to people familiar with the plans. Some shipments have already been completed, these sources said, Reuters said.

The move comes as Chinese artificial intelligence companies scramble to secure domestic alternatives after the United States restricted access to Nvidia's (NVDA, Financials) latest chips. Washington recently informed Nvidia that sales of its H20 chips to China would require an export license, following earlier curbs that blocked the H100 chip's sale to Chinese buyers before its release in 2022.

Huawei's 910C chip builds on its existing 910B model by combining two processors into a single unit through advanced integration, according to sources familiar with its design. While not viewed as a technological breakthrough, the new chip doubles computing power and memory compared to the earlier generation and includes enhancements for handling a wider range of artificial intelligence tasks.

Consultancy firm Albright Stonebridge Group said Huawei's Ascend 910C is positioned to become a primary choice for Chinese developers building AI models and deploying inference capabilities following the latest U.S. restrictions. Huawei began offering 910C samples to select Chinese technology firms late last year and started accepting commercial orders soon after.

Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. is reported to be producing some components of the 910C using its N+2 7-nanometer process technology. However, yield rates remain low, according to sources. Some of Huawei's chips are believed to incorporate semiconductors originally manufactured by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company for China-based Sophgo, sources added.

The U.S. Commerce Department is investigating TSMC's past dealings after chips made for Sophgo were found inside Huawei's 910B processors. TSMC said it complies with all regulatory requirements and has not supplied Huawei directly since September 2020.