Chinese firms rush to buy Nvidia AI chips as sales set to resume
Nvidia's AI chips have been a key focus of US export controls designed to keep the most advanced chips out of Chinese hands over national security concerns. The US-listed company has said the curbs would cut its revenue by $15bn (R267.01bn).
The world's most valuable firm is filing applications with the US government to resume sales to China of the H20 graphics processing unit (GPU), and expects to get the licences soon, Nvidia said in a statement.
"The US government has assured Nvidia that licences will be granted, and Nvidia hopes to start deliveries soon," said the company, whose chief executive, Jensen Huang, is visiting Beijing and set to speak at an event on Wednesday.
The White House, which has previously expressed concern that the Chinese military could use AI chips to develop weapons, did not respond to a request for comment.
Chinese companies have scrambled to place orders for the chips, which Nvidia would then need to send to the US government for approval, the sources familiar with the matter said. They added that internet giants ByteDance and Tencent are in the process of submitting applications.
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