Nvidia’s CEO Jensen Huang suggests China is ‘nanoseconds behind’ the US in AI chips, calls for reducing export restrictions

Jensen Huang

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has voiced strong alarm that China’s semiconductor technology is approaching the level of U.S. chips, with China just “nanoseconds behind” the U.S. in chipmaking. Huang highlighted the rapid advances and robust potential of China's chipmaking industry, arguing that allowing American technology companies to compete openly in China will serve the interests of both global superpowers.

China to dominate the AI semiconductor race in future

On the tech podcast BG2, hosted by tech investors Brad Gerstner and Bill Gurley via Tom’s Hardware, Huang spoke about the growth of semiconductor AI chips in the Chinese landscape. He stated that “China’s semiconductor technology, backed by a large talent pool, an intense work culture, and internal regional competition, has advanced to a point where it is only a few nanoseconds, or one-billionth of a second, behind the U.S.”

He also argued that “The U.S. government must allow American companies to compete worldwide, including in China, in order to maximize America’s economic success and geopolitical influence.” His comments come as Nvidia hopes to ship its H20 AI GPU to Chinese customers again, following a months-long pause due to new U.S. export rules.

With these remarks, Huang has busted the myth that China is years behind the US in the chipmaking race. Huang also offered some insights as to how China is quickly catching up to the US. "Don't forget that China has some of the best STEM schools in the world. They're the most hungry in the world," referring to China's controversial "9 AM until 9 PM, 6 days a week" working culture, and how it has boosted their work culture and intensified internal competition.