Nvidia Prepping New AI Chip Variant for Chinese Market, Sources Report

Photo: Reuters

Nvidia is preparing a version of its latest flagship AI chip series for the Chinese market, designed to comply with existing U.S. export controls, according to three sources familiar with the situation. This adaptation is part of Nvidia's strategy to navigate the complex landscape of international trade restrictions.

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The company introduced its "Blackwell" chip series in March, with mass production scheduled for later this year. Within this lineup, the B200 chip is notable for its significant performance leap, being up to 30 times faster than its predecessor in certain tasks, such as processing queries from chatbots.

The new chip, tentatively named the "B20," will be distributed in China through Nvidia’s major partner, Inspur. This partnership is expected to facilitate both the launch and distribution of the B20. However, the sources requested anonymity due to the fact that Nvidia has not yet made an official public announcement regarding this development.

A spokesperson for Nvidia declined to comment on the details, and Inspur did not respond to requests for further information. The move comes in response to U.S. restrictions imposed in 2023, which aim to prevent the advancement of Chinese military capabilities through access to advanced semiconductor technologies. In response to these regulations, Nvidia has tailored several of its chips for the Chinese market.

The Blackwell series, including the new B20 chip, represents Nvidia’s ongoing efforts to balance compliance with U.S. regulations while maintaining a strong presence in the global market.