Technology September 19: Huawei expands AI infrastructure, Nvidia joins hands with Intel

Huawei launches new AI infrastructure amid Nvidia ban in China

The Huawei logo on a building in China. (Source: Getty Images)

At the Huawei Connect conference on September 18, Huawei announced SuperPoD interconnect technology capable of linking up to 15,000 GPUs, including the company's Ascend AI chip. This technology helps increase computing power, directly competing with Nvidia's NVLink infrastructure.

The news comes just a day after China banned domestic companies from buying Nvidia hardware, including the RTX Pro 600D server dedicated to the Chinese market.

Huawei is taking the opportunity to expand its influence in the AI field as its major rival is eliminated from the game.

Nvidia invests $5 billion in Intel, joins hands to develop AI chips

On September 18, Nvidia announced the purchase of $5 billion in Intel shares, becoming one of the company's largest shareholders. The two sides will cooperate to develop multiple generations of products for data centers and PCs, integrating architecture through the NVLink protocol to increase data transmission speed between CPUs and GPUs.

Intel will manufacture custom x86 CPUs for Nvidia’s AI infrastructure, and develop PC chips with integrated RTX GPUs, called “x86 RTX SoCs.” The deal helps Intel regain its footing in the AI race after years of struggles, while also cementing Nvidia’s leadership in the semiconductor industry.

Google opens free AI assistant Gemini on Chrome

Google's AI assistant Gemini is integrated into the browser. (Source: Google)

As of September 18, Chrome users in the US do not need to subscribe to the AI Pro or AI Ultra package to use the Gemini assistant. Just set the browser language to English, users will see the “sparkle” icon to activate Gemini.

Gemini can now:

Compare and summarize content from multiple browser tabs
Access browsing history to help retrieve information
Deep integration with Google Calendar, YouTube, and Maps
Supports quick password changes on sites like Coursera, Duolingo, Spotify

Google is also developing “automated tasks” capabilities so Gemini can perform tasks like online shopping on behalf of users.

Taliban extends internet ban in Afghanistan

On September 18, the Taliban continued to tighten its control over the internet by disconnecting fiber optic cables in several provinces including Baghlan, Badakhshan, Kunduz, Nangarhar and Takhar. The ban, issued to “prevent moral decay,” left millions of people, government agencies and businesses without access to Wi-Fi. Mobile networks remained active but were restricted.

The Afghan Media Support Organization condemned the move, saying it threatened freedom of information and expression. This is the first time the Taliban has imposed a comprehensive ban since taking power in 2021.

Vilnius launches Europe's first public electric boat line

The Lithuanian capital Vilnius has just launched the Lašiša electric boat line on the Neris River, becoming the first electric public transport service in Europe. Each boat carries 32 passengers, operates at a speed of 7.5 km/h and has CO₂ emissions of just 11–16g per km/person, much lower than diesel buses.

While hailed as a green move, some residents remain skeptical about its effectiveness, arguing that walking is faster. The city plans to buy two new boats from Latvia to expand the service.

Minh Hoan

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/cong-nghe-19-9-huawei-mo-rong-ha-tang-ai-nvidia-bat-tay-intel-ar966238.html