AI Firms In China May Ditch NVIDIA After Startup Claims A Cheaper, 1.5×-Faster Tensor Chip

Chinese AI firms may soon abandon NVIDIA for a domestic challenger. Startup Zhonghao Xinying claims its new 'Ghana' TPU is 1.5× faster than the A100 and uses entirely self-developed IP. (Credit: AP)

A major shake-up could be on the horizon for the world of AI hardware. For years, NVIDIA's chips have been the undisputed standard for powering artificial intelligence, especially in places like China.

However, a new challenger has emerged: a local startup claims to have developed a tensor chip that is not only significantly cheaper but also up to 1.5 times faster.