Nvidia, a leading US chipmaker, did not attend China’s biggest AI event, the World AI Conference, which opened on Saturday in Shanghai. The company’s absence comes despite recent hopes of resuming sales to China. Huawei, a Chinese rival, had a prominent display at the conference, showcasing its Ascend AI chips.
Earlier this year, research firm SemiAnalysis pointed out that even though one Ascend chip may be less powerful than Nvidia’s most advanced Blackwell chip, an early look at Huawei’s system similar to the one unveiled in Shanghai more than offsets the disparity by piling in five times more chips. However, there is an efficiency cost as Huawei’s systems require far more power than Nvidia’s to operate.
The conference featured exhibits from startups and giants like Tencent and Alibaba, with many showcasing AI applications in robotics, smart glasses, and translation apps. NetEase’s Youdao business displayed a handheld bar device that uses AI to help students study material, including college entrance exam prep.
Nvidia’s absence highlights the complexities of US-China tech tensions, with the company having to stop sales to China in April due to new export controls. Despite this, Nvidia remains the world’s most valuable company, driven by demand for its chips in generative AI breakthroughs.
Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/28/nvidia-absent-at-major-china-ai-event-.html