nvidia CEO Jensen Fan said Wednesday that China is “not behind” artificial intelligence, and that Huaway is “one of the world's most frightening technology companies.”
Speaking to reporters at a technology conference in Washington, D.C., Huang said that China may be “just behind the US” for now, but that's a narrow gap.
“We're very close,” he said. “Remember, this is a long-standing infinite race.”
Nvidia has been key to the global economy for the past few years as it has chipped most of its recent advanced AI applications. The company faces growing hurdles in the US, including pending Biden-era regulations restricting the shipment of cutting-edge AI chips to many countries around the world.
This month's Trump administration has restricted Nvidia's H20 chips from shipping to China without a license. This technology, related to hopper chips used in other parts of the world, was developed to comply with previous US export restrictions. Nvidia said the limit would require a $5.5 billion hit.
Huawei, which is on the US trade blacklist, is reportedly working on its own AI chips for its Chinese customers.
“They are incredibly central to all of these things that advance AI in computing and networking technology,” Huang said. “They have made great strides over the last few years.”
Nvidia argues that US policies should focus on increasing corporate competitiveness and threaten US technology leadership by limiting chip sales to China and other countries.
Huang has once again called for the US government to focus on AI policies that accelerate technology development.
“This is an industry we have to compete with,” Huang said.
On Wednesday, Trump, called Huang, supported the company's recent announcement that it plans to build a $500 billion AI infrastructure in the US over the next five years.
Huang said he believes Nvidia can manufacture artificial intelligence devices in the United States. The company said earlier this month it will assemble AI servers with its manufacturing partner Foxconn near Houston.
“I'm sure we can manufacture on land with willpower and our country's resources,” Fan said.
Nvidia's stock has been sliding along with a wider market after declining more than 20% this year, nearly tripling its value last year. Stocks fell almost 3% on Wednesday.
