The race to build artificial intelligence (AI) chips is no longer just about who can make the fastest processor. Now, it is increasingly becoming a China-U.S. technology contest, with companies on both sides pushing to build more of their own AI-computing capabilities as U.S. government restrictions limit China’s access to advanced U.S. chips.
Huawei just gave that race another jolt. The Chinese tech giant is reportedly moving up the launch of its next-generation Ascend 960DT AI chip to the first quarter of 2027 from its previously planned Q3 timeline. Huawei also plans to launch the Ascend 960PR in Q3 2027, accelerating its broader Ascend roadmap as it works to expand China’s domestic AI infrastructure.