Responding to a question about Nvidia's next chip offering for China after the H20, Huang said, "It's not Hopper because it's not possible to modify Hopper anymore," according to a livestream broadcast by Taiwan's Formosa TV News network.
Huang's visit to China occurred immediately after the U.S. government implemented new restrictions on shipments of its H20 chips to the country. The H20 is currently the only artificial intelligence (AI) chip that Nvidia can legally sell in China under the existing regulations. Huang has consistently emphasized the significant importance of the Chinese market for Nvidia's continued growth.
Earlier this month, Reuters reported that Nvidia was planning to release a downgraded version of the H20 chip within the next two months as part of its efforts to bolster sales in China. The company has reportedly been facing increased competition from domestic rivals such as Huawei in this key market.
The U.S. Framework for Artificial Intelligence Diffusion, which was issued in January, shortly before the end of the immediate past administration, aimed to restrict the export of advanced AI chips to a majority of countries.
Huang also expressed his view that previous AI export regulations were misguided and should have instead focused on maximizing the global reach of U.S. technology. A leading political figure has indicated an intention to cancel the AI diffusion rules introduced by the Biden administration.
For Nvidia, the Chinese market represents a substantial revenue stream. In the fiscal year ending January 26, China generated $17 billion for the company, accounting for 13% of its total sales. The company's future approach to this vital market will be closely watched by the industry, particularly in light of the evolving regulatory landscape and increasing domestic competition.