Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang warns: China 'not behind' in AI, 'very close' to U.S.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang warned that China is “not behind” in artificial intelligence (AI), adding that Huawei is “one of the most formidable technology companies in the world.”

Speaking at a tech conference in Washington, D.C., Huang acknowledged that China may be “right behind” the U.S. for now, but stressed the narrow gap between the two nations in the AI race. “We are very close,” he said, noting, “Remember this is a long-term, infinite race.”
Nvidia has become central to the global economy, powering many advanced AI applications. However, the company is facing increasing challenges in the U.S., including tariffs and an upcoming regulation under the Biden administration that would restrict its most advanced AI chips to several countries.

Earlier this month, the Trump administration imposed restrictions on Nvidia’s H20 chips, which are related to the Hopper chips used globally, requiring a license for shipment to China. Nvidia expects a $5.5 billion loss due to this restriction.

Huawei, which is on the U.S. trade blacklist, is reportedly developing its own AI chip for the Chinese market. Huang praised Huawei’s capabilities, stating, “They’re incredible in computing and network technology, all these essential capabilities to advance AI,” and noted the company’s significant progress in recent years.

Huang reiterated his belief that U.S. policy should focus on enhancing the competitiveness of American companies, warning that restricting chip sales to countries like China could jeopardise U.S. technology leadership.