Nvidia’s Jensen Huang: Huawei Chips for DeepSeek AI Models Would Be ‘Horrible’ for the U.S.

Key Takeaways

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang warned that if Chinese start-up DeepSeek optimizes AI models on Huawei chips, it could lead to a significant advantage for China over the US.
DeepSeek’s upcoming V4 model is rumored to run on Huawei’s Ascend 950PR processor and may raise concerns about US export control violations.
Despite past regulatory restrictions, Huang advocates for collaboration between the US and China in AI development, though US lawmakers are increasingly skeptical.

Huang’s Concerns Over AI Development

During a recent appearance on the Dwarkesh Podcast, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang expressed significant concerns regarding the competitive landscape of artificial intelligence, particularly in relation to Chinese start-up DeepSeek. He stated that if DeepSeek optimizes its new AI models using chips from Huawei Technologies, it would represent “a horrible outcome” for the United States. Huang emphasized the potential consequences if future AI models develop utilizing Chinese standards instead of the American tech stack. As AI technology becomes more widespread globally, Huang foresees a scenario where China could surpass the US in terms of AI advancements.

The conversation took place ahead of the anticipated launch of DeepSeek’s V4 foundation model later this month. Reports indicate that this new model will utilize Huawei’s Ascend 950PR processor. Additionally, a recent report by Reuters suggested that previous iterations of DeepSeek’s models, particularly V3, had been trained on Nvidia’s Blackwell chips, which may breach US export control regulations. The V3 model, released in late 2024, employed 2,048 Nvidia H800 graphics processing units based on older technology specifically designed for the Chinese market, following a ban on sales to China in 2023.

Regulatory conditions had previously loosened under the Trump administration, allowing Nvidia to resume producing the H200 chip, a more advanced version sold to China, but Huang noted that tensions have re-emerged. On Thursday, US lawmakers and experts asserted that China was either purchasing or unlawfully acquiring technology in the AI sector, prompting discussions about potentially placing DeepSeek and other companies like Moonshot AI and MiniMax on a restricted export list.

In the podcast discussion, Huang reiterated his belief in the necessity for greater US-China cooperation in AI. However, prevailing sentiments among US lawmakers lean towards increased skepticism regarding China’s intentions in the tech arena. Huang highlighted that even if China were reliant on inferior chips, the immense availability of energy and a vast pool of AI talent would facilitate rapid advancements in AI, potentially enabling China to catch up with the US.

As the AI landscape evolves, Huang’s insights signal the urgency for strategic consideration regarding international relations and export regulations in the field of artificial intelligence. The impending launch of DeepSeek’s V4 model will likely intensify the scrutiny surrounding these developments and the strategic implications for global technology leadership.

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