Huawei challenges Nvidia

Huawei seeks new solutions to reduce dependence on Nvidia. Photo: Bloomberg .

Huawei Technologies has just introduced its latest solution to increase computing power for AI systems, in an effort to challenge technology from Nvidia.

In a statement released on September 12, the Shenzhen-based technology group said the SuperPod technology is capable of connecting up to 15,488 graphics cards equipped with Ascend AI chips developed by Huawei. The company also revealed that it has built a supercomputer cluster with the combined power of about 1 million graphics cards.

The move comes as China urges major tech companies to limit their use of Nvidia RTX Pro 6000D chips, a line of workstation graphics cards that can be used for AI applications. This is seen as the latest effort by the government to reduce its dependence on US hardware and promote domestic solutions.

SuperPod is seen as an upgrade to compete with NVLink, Nvidia’s high-speed interconnect technology, which is especially important for Huawei, as its most advanced Ascend chip still lacks the performance of Nvidia’s high-end AI products.

Instead of focusing on the power of individual chips, Huawei chose to combine multiple processors into clusters to compensate for the limitations. Founder Ren Zhengfei once admitted to the People's Daily that Huawei still lags behind the US in chip production and performance, but "can still achieve the desired results through cluster computing."

In addition to the chip connectivity solution, Huawei also announced the roadmap for launching a new series of Ascend AI chips in the next 3 years. Specifically, the Ascend 950PR is expected to launch in early 2026, followed by the Ascend 950DT in late 2026, the Ascend 960 in late 2027, and the Ascend 970 in late 2028.

With the SuperPod and its new chips, the Chinese tech giant is looking to solidify its position in the AI space, where Nvidia is considered the gold standard. However, direct competition remains a big challenge as the gap in single-chip power between the two sides is unlikely to close in the short term.

Source: https://znews.vn/huawei-thach-thuc-nvidia-post1586302.html