Nvidia CEO Warns Export Curbs May Cost Billions

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has downplayed U.S. fears that the company's AI chips could enhance China's military, stressing that China cannot rely on American technology due to sanctions and its own domestic capabilities. Ahead of his China trip and after receiving a warning letter from U.S. senators, Huang argued that U.S. export restrictions are counterproductive, pushing China to develop its own semiconductor industry and undermining U.S. tech leadership. He emphasized that maintaining the 'American tech stack' as a global standard requires making U.S. technology accessible to developers worldwide, particularly in China, which accounts for about half of global AI talent. Huang highlighted that export controls have already halved Nvidia’s market share in China and could cost the company billions. He also disputed the notion that open-source Chinese AI models automatically pose security risks. Huang maintains that both the U.S. and Chinese militaries will avoid dependence on each other's technology.