Huawei is shifting its strategy in AI chips. Despite US sanctions limiting hardware, the company hasn’t achieved the same success in software.
Huawei to Change AI Policy
Huawei’s software ecosystem, called CANN, has failed to deliver the expected performance compared to Nvidia’s CUDA platform. This has hindered the fulfillment of large-scale orders. Therefore, the company is preparing for a fundamental change in its chip design approach.
According to information reported by The Information, Huawei is working on new software that translates Nvidia’s CUDA instructions into a language its own chips can understand. This move aims to eliminate existing incompatibility issues and overcome software-based bottlenecks.
At the same time, the general-purpose chip functionality model long used by Nvidia and AMD is also on the company’s radar. Huawei plans to closely examine these architectures and reshape its own solutions.
The company’s long-held focus on application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) is no longer its sole focus. In line with the new strategy, AI chips designed for general-purpose use are also being added to its product line. With this change, Huawei aims to expand the use of its chip solutions.
All of these moves are directly linked to the sanctions imposed by the US. The US administration, seeking to limit China’s access to advanced semiconductor manufacturing infrastructure, is now considering intervening in equipment procurement from countries like Malaysia and Thailand.
Even if Huawei overcomes the software hurdles, the fact that Chinese manufacturers have not yet advanced beyond 7nm remains a significant factor limiting its competitiveness. What are your thoughts on this? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.
