A senior executive from Huawei, a major Chinese technology company, rejected concerns on Thursday that a shortage of advanced artificial intelligence chips would hinder China’s goal of leading in AI. Zhang Ping’an, CEO of Huawei Cloud, emphasized the importance of innovation in overcoming these challenges.
Speaking at the World AI Conference in Shanghai, Zhang acknowledged the constraints in computing power in China due to stricter U.S. restrictions on AI chip exports. He underscored that while advanced AI chips are crucial, they are not the sole foundation for AI infrastructure.
Huawei, restricted by U.S. regulations from buying advanced chips from American suppliers, has developed its own AI chip called Ascend, widely used in China for AI model training. Despite its perceived lower computing power compared to Nvidia’s offerings, Zhang highlighted the role of innovative cloud solutions in compensating for chip limitations.
He advocated for a comprehensive approach integrating cloud computing, edge technology, and network advancements to improve efficiency and reduce energy consumption. Zhang also noted Huawei Cloud’s leadership in delivering such integrated solutions.
