Key Points
- Chinese AI companies have formed two new alliances to build a domestic tech ecosystem.
- The goal is to reduce their dependence on foreign technology, especially after U.S. restrictions on Nvidia chips.
- Huawei unveiled a new AI system that reportedly competes with Nvidia’s most advanced offering.
- Chinese firms are using “chip clustering” to extract more power from their own, less advanced chips.
In a major push for self-sufficiency, China’s artificial intelligence companies have announced two new industry alliances aimed at developing a domestic tech ecosystem. The move is a direct response to U.S. export restrictions that have cut off their access to advanced Nvidia AI chips. The announcements were made at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai.
The first group, the “Model-Chip Ecosystem Innovation Alliance,” brings together Chinese AI model developers and chip manufacturers. The goal is to connect the entire technology chain, from chips to infrastructure, to create a homegrown alternative to foreign technology. Members include sanctioned companies like Huawei, Biren, and Moore Threads.
A second alliance, the Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce AI Committee, will focus on integrating AI into industrial transformation. This group includes another sanctioned firm, SenseTime, as well as several AI model developers and chipmakers.
The conference also showcased a slew of new products, highlighting China’s progress. Huawei unveiled an AI computing system that experts believe can rival Nvidia’s most advanced offering. They have achieved this through “chip clustering,” utilizing system-level innovations to compensate for the weaknesses of individual chips.
Other companies also showcased their latest technology. Tencent unveiled a model that can create interactive 3D worlds from text prompts, Baidu announced “digital human” technology for creating virtual livestreamers, and Alibaba presented its new AI-powered smart glasses.
