Nvidia's Jensen Huang says China's open-source AI a ‘catalyst for progress'
Beijing is using this week's China International Supply Chain Expo as a forum to boost its image as the global defender of free trade — in contrast to the tariff chaos sparked by US President Donald Trump.
Addressing the expo's opening ceremony, Huang — whose firm this week became the first to touch US$4 trillion (RM17 trillion) in market value — hailed China's role in pioneering AI.
'China's open-source AI is a catalyst for global progress, giving every country and industry a chance to join the AI revolution,' he said in a reference to Chinese AI startup DeepSeek.
'AI is transforming every industry, from scientific research and healthcare to energy, transportation and logistics,' he said.
Huang praised China's 'super-fast' innovation, powered by its 'researchers, developers and entrepreneurs'.
Nvidia announced yesterday that it will resume sales of its H20 AI chips to China after Washington pledged to remove licensing restrictions that had halted exports.
The California-based company produces some of the world's most advanced semiconductors but cannot ship its most cutting-edge chips to China due to concerns that Beijing could use them to enhance military capabilities.
Nvidia developed the H20 — a less powerful version of its AI processing units — specifically for export to China. However, that plan stalled when the Trump administration tightened export licensing requirements in April.
'The US government has assured Nvidia that licenses will be granted, and Nvidia hopes to start deliveries soon,' the company said in a statement yesterday, adding it was 'filing applications to sell the Nvidia H20 GPU again'.
The announcement from Nvidia boosted tech firms around the world, with Wall Street's Nasdaq exchange rising to another record high and stocks in Hong Kong also rallying.
'Multiple risks intertwining'
The tightened US export curbs come as China's economy wavers, with domestic consumers reluctant to spend and a prolonged property sector crisis weighing on growth.
President Xi Jinping has called for greater self-reliance in the face of increasing external uncertainty.
And in a thinly veiled swipe at Trump in his opening remarks at the expo, Vice Premier He Lifeng said: '... some countries are interfering in the market under the pretext of reducing risk, using measures such as imposing tariffs.'
'Global changes of a century are accelerating, with multiple risks intertwining and piling up,' he said.
'We need to further build a shared consensus on development, firmly oppose the politicisation... and over-securitisation of economic and trade issues, and work together to uphold an open and cooperative international environment.' — AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
US has told Armenia it is ready to manage transport corridor with Azerbaijan, Armenpress reports
FILE PHOTO: Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan waves as he arrives to attend the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit at the Grand Palais in Paris, France, February 11, 2025. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo (Reuters) -Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said the U.S. had offered to manage a potential transport corridor that would link the bulk of Azerbaijan to an Azerbaijani exclave via Armenian territory, the Armenpress news agency reported on Wednesday. The potential corridor, which Baku is keen to secure, would run roughly 32 km (20 miles) through Armenia's southern Syunik province, linking the majority of Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan, an Azerbaijani exclave that borders Baku's ally Turkey. Azerbaijan does not want the corridor to be controlled solely by Armenia due to concerns that Yerevan could revoke access too easily. Asked at a news conference if Armenia had received a specific proposal from Washington regarding the proposed corridor, Pashinyan said: "Yes, we have received proposals from the United States," Armenpress, a state news agency, reported. The transit link is one of several stumbling blocks to a peace deal between Azerbaijan and Armenia, neighbours in the South Caucasus region who have fought a series of wars since the late 1980s and remain arch rivals. The countries said in March they had finalised a draft peace deal, but the timeline for signing it remains uncertain. Pashinyan's comments came days after the U.S. ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, said that Washington has proposed taking over the planned transit corridor. "They're arguing over 32 kilometres of road, but this is no joke. It's been going on for a decade – 32 kilometres of road," Barrack told reporters in New York last Friday, according to a State Department readout. "So what happens is America comes in and says, 'Okay, we'll take it over. Give us the 32 kilometres of road on a hundred-year lease, and you can all share it." (Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Lucy PapachristouEditing by Andrew Osborn)
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Huawei tops China smartphone market after 4 years amid US curbs
BEIJING: Huawei has surged back to the top of China's smartphone market for the first time in over four years, surpassing Apple and local rivals like Xiaomi, according to data from the International Data Corporation. The Shenzhen-based company secured 18.1% of the market in Q2 2025, shipping 12.5 million units despite ongoing US export controls and economic headwinds. China's overall smartphone shipments declined by 4% year-on-year to 69 million units, ending six consecutive quarters of growth. Arthur Guo, a senior IDC analyst, noted, 'Despite the recent US-China trade truce, the broader economic environment presents ongoing challenges, with consumer confidence remaining subdued.' Huawei's resurgence follows years of US sanctions that restricted its access to critical technologies, pushing the firm to develop in-house solutions. Meanwhile, Apple dropped to fifth place with a 13.9% market share, reflecting weakening iPhone demand in China. The tech giant's rebound highlights its resilience amid geopolitical tensions, though analysts caution that smartphone demand may remain sluggish in the near term. – AFP
Focus Malaysia
2 hours ago
- Focus Malaysia
Is AI in the newsroom a tool, threat, or a transformation?
ARTIFICIAL Intelligence (AI) is altering the task of journalism in the ways the news is collected, processed, and delivered. Through automated summaries or tools that can identify deepfakes, AI provides newsrooms a means to increase productivity and velocity. But with such powers come profound questions: Can we trust AI-generated content? What becomes of journalists' jobs? And how do we ensure that ethics remain at the forefront? As newsrooms, including those in Southeast Asia, press on with AI, it is worth considering both the opportunities and challenges. AI is not aiming to replace journalists—it seeks to make their work easier. The technology is capable of handling tedious tasks like summarising articles, scanning through vast datasets, and writing initial reports. However, the artistry of storytelling, emotional understanding, and values-based thinking are uniquely human traits that AI cannot replicate. A recent instance involving the fabrication of book titles in an AI-generated summer reading list illustrates its shortcomings. Blunders like these demonstrate why human supervision is imperative. Ultimately, AI should be regarded as an alleviating aid, not a substitute. Fast forward five years from now, the ideal newsroom is one in which AI is fully integrated, but journalists remain in control. AI can manage tedious work such as sifting through data, customising content for different demographics, and drafting preliminary versions of stories. This liberates reporters to focus on investigating, storytelling, and tough ethical decisions. The partnership between AI and human beings is crucial—AI offers up the data, and journalists supply the understanding. Transparency, accountability, and regular training will ensure that newsrooms remain rooted in journalistic values. AI excels at handling tasks that require processing large volumes of information. It can generate financial reports, sports news, or weather predictions in moments. It also assists with verifying facts by swiftly comparing various sources. However, when it comes to comprehending cultural context, interpreting subtle cues, or making moral choices, AI continues to struggle. It lacks human intuition and often amplifies biases present in its training data. This is where human judgement becomes essential. Across Southeast Asia, news organisations are beginning to adopt AI, although the pace of implementation varies. In Malaysia, Media Prima has announced plans to integrate AI across its operations by the end of 2024. Bernama is offering AI training for its staff and has previously experimented with AI-generated content, such as an Azan (call to prayer) video during Ramadan. These preliminary steps show both growing interest and a clear recognition of the caution required in AI integration. While AI can enhance productivity, excessive dependence on it may pose serious risks. It could lead to a decline in critical thinking, weaken ethical oversight, and undermine the human factor that lends journalism its trustworthiness. That infamous summer reading list with imaginary books is only one example of what can go awry. If news organisations are not careful, over-reliance on AI might erode public confidence. The right balance—using AI as a tool, not a crutch—is crucial. To maintain journalism's credibility, a multi-faceted strategy is essential. News organisations should use AI technologies to detect manipulated content while also equipping journalists with digital literacy and critical thinking skills. Transparency is vital—AI-generated content should be clearly marked, and its role in the reporting process explicitly explained. Above all, media outlets must establish and follow rigorous ethical standards regarding the use of AI. These actions will help preserve public trust. AI will undoubtedly transform journalism, but that doesn't necessarily mean job losses. Instead, it's likely to create new roles focused on managing AI systems, curating content, and ensuring ethical compliance. For example, Reuters uses an AI tool called Lynx Insight to help journalists identify emerging stories, freeing reporters to concentrate on more creative and investigative tasks. What's needed now is for journalists to upskill—to learn how to work with AI, not against it. Journalists must acquire knowledge in data analysis, AI principles, and digital ethics to stay relevant. Understanding how AI functions and learning to interpret data responsibly will be crucial. In evaluating AI-generated content and guarding against misinformation, reporters will need strong digital literacy. Even in the AI era, ethics and transparency must remain central values. With the right training, modern journalists can continue to be vital and relevant. AI is rapidly integrating into the daily routines of journalism. While it offers immense benefits in speed and information processing, it can never replace the thoughtfulness, compassion, or ethical judgement that human journalists bring. As newsrooms—particularly in Southeast Asia—embrace these technologies, caution, accountability, and a commitment to truth must guide their journey. The journalists who adapt and learn to collaborate with AI will not just survive the changes— they will shape the future of trustworthy, meaningful journalism. ‒ July 16, 2025 Prof Ts Dr Manjit Singh Sidhu is a Professor at the College of Computing and Informatics, Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN). The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia. Main image: Unsplash/Vanilla Bear Films
