Jensen Huang: Nvidia Has ‘Largely Conceded’ China to Huawei

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Nvidia may still want China… but China may no longer be waiting.

In a CNBC interview, CEO Jensen Huang said US export controls have pushed Chinese AI companies toward domestic alternatives, with Huawei moving into the space Nvidia once dominated. He framed that shift as a direct consequence of Washington’s chip limits, which have left Chinese firms looking for suppliers closer to home.

“We’ve really largely conceded that market to them,” Huang told CNBC.

For Nvidia, the concern goes beyond immediate revenue. AI dominance depends as much on software ecosystems and developers as hardware, meaning that every customer that shifts toward Huawei-backed infrastructure could make China’s return to Nvidia less certain, despite the recent easing of restrictions. 

Caught in a crossfire between two heavyweights

Nvidia is currently the world’s most valuable company, with the US as its largest market.

However, in his CNBC interview, Huang noted that Nvidia still has its sights on China, despite geopolitical tensions that have diminished its 30-year presence there. He said that “demand in China is quite large,” emphasizing the vast opportunities it could get if it reacquires its position as China’s major supplier.

Corroborating Huang’s statement that China has strong chip demand, the US Bureau of…