Huawei pulls forward Ascend 960DT AI chip launch to Q1 2027 in direct challenge to Nvidia
From the Newshound archive · first published 19 September 2026.
Huawei's Deputy Chairman and Rotating Chairman Eric Xu speaks at the company's Shanghai conference; demand for Huawei's AI chips already outstrips supply as Chinese firms rapidly embrace domestic alternatives to Nvidia.
Huawei has moved up the launch of its Ascend 960DT artificial intelligence chip to the first quarter of 2027, accelerating its timeline in a direct push to compete with Nvidia's dominance in the AI chip market. The Chinese tech giant had previously planned a later release but is now fast-tracking production as the global AI chip race intensifies.
The Ascend 960DT is Huawei's most ambitious bid yet to offer a domestic alternative to Nvidia's AI processors.
The accelerated launch comes as US export controls continue to restrict Chinese firms' access to cutting-edge Nvidia chips.
