Huawei is gearing up to ship its new AI chip, Ascend 910C, to Chinese customers starting May. This move is significant as it provides an alternative to Nvidia’s H20 chip, which is currently the only AI chip available to Chinese companies due to US export restrictions.
The US has been tightening its grip on China’s access to advanced AI chips. In 2022, the Biden administration restricted exports of high-end AI chips, such as Nvidia’s H100, to China. This was aimed at limiting China’s development of advanced technologies, particularly in AI and military applications. Nvidia responded by developing the H20 chip, designed to comply with US export regulations. However, in April, the Trump administration announced that even the H20 would require an export license.
How Huawei’s Ascend 910C Was Developed
Huawei’s Ascend 910C chip is not a revolutionary new technology. Instead, it’s an evolution of the existing Ascend 910B chip. Sources say Huawei achieved this by packaging two 910B chips together, effectively doubling the processing power and memory. They also improved the software that controls the chip, making it better suited for AI tasks.
In 2022, Huawei used SMIC’s N+1 process, a 7nm technology, to produce the Ascend 910B chip. While it’s unclear if SMIC is producing the 910C, there are indications that they’re using their N+2 process for some components. Interestingly, some parts of the 910C are reportedly being manufactured by TSMC, specifically for Sophgo, a Chinese company, which may then supply them to Huawei.
TechInsights, a Canadian tech research firm, found that TSMC-made chips were inside Huawei’s Ascend 910B when they tore it down in late 2024. This was surprising since Huawei is on the US blacklist. Researchers noticed that TSMC produced nearly 3 million chips between 2021 and 2024, matching Sophgo’s production schedule. This led some to speculate that these chips were destined for Huawei, despite TSMC’s claims that they weren’t producing chips for the company due to US regulations.
What’s Next for Huawei’s Ascend 910C
Huawei has already sent samples of the 910C to several tech companies, and they’ve received orders. This suggests that the 910C will become a go-to chip for Chinese AI developers. Not only does it avoid the restrictions surrounding Nvidia’s H20, but it’s also reportedly more powerful.
The rise of Huawei’s Ascend 910C highlights the ongoing tech rivalry between China and the US. As the US continues to tighten its export controls, Chinese companies are finding ways to adapt and innovate.
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