Amid the escalating US-China tech war and supply chain risks, the trend of "de-Nvidia-ization" is rapidly spreading within China's computing power industry. This shift represents not only a technological transformation but also a comprehensive change encompassing policy, technology, ecosystem, and market dynamics
Huawei's HiSilicon and Lenovo have reignited global debate over China's semiconductor ambitions by launching AI PCs and tablets powered by 5nm chips, despite the country's lack of access to advanced EUV lithography equipment. Huawei's Kirin X90 was unveiled in a high-profile spot on CCTV, while Lenovo's self-developed 5nm SS1101 SoC surfaced quietly inside the new YOGA Pad Pro 14.5 with minimal fanfare. The contrast reflects not just divergent publicity tactics, but different survival strategies under China's chipmaking constraints
Unlike most large language models that run on cloud servers, edge AI operates models directly on devices. This approach dramatically cuts latency from network transmission, allowing real-time responsiveness and offline operation. It also enhances privacy and security by keeping data local instead of uploading it to the cloud
Starting from AI compilers and now officially transforming into a chip IP supplier, Skymizer recently launched its new solution HyperThought. This aims to further promote the widespread adoption of AI and enable more customers and chip designers to develop AI chip products that best meet market demands
Hygon Information Technology and Dawning Information Industry Co. (Sugon) announced a strategic merger on May 25, 2025, a move widely seen as aligning with Beijing's agenda to consolidate its computing infrastructure and fast-track technological self-reliance. Hygon, valued at roughly CNY316 billion (US$43.95 billion), focuses on domestic CPUs and data processing units (DCUs), with five chip generations in use across finance, telecom, artificial intelligence, and enterprise data centers
Fresh off a triumphant Middle East tour, President Donald Trump reignited trade tensions on Thursday with a bold new proposal: imposing a 50 percent tariff on all European Union (EU) imports and a 25% levy on all smartphones not manufactured in the US
The impending semiconductor chip tariff policy continues to cause concern. The semiconductor supply chain believes that if US President Donald Trump insists on imposing tariffs, it would significantly impact American IC design and equipment materials sectors, while the initial target, TSMC, would face limited disruption
Following years of trailing its competitors and facing mounting skepticism, Google appeared to turn a corner at this year's I/O developer conference. Unlike previous events where the tech giant labored to explain the power of its AI models—often to the detriment of product clarity—this year's showcase offered a focused, product-forward strategy that resonated with both developers and market watchers
US President Donald Trump recently demanded that Apple relocate the assembly and production of iPhones to the US. Otherwise, a 25% tariff would be imposed on iPhones and other smartphones manufactured overseas, reigniting market concerns. Generally, it is believed that Trump's move against Apple will ultimately amount to little more than an empty threat. This reckless approach could impose greater operational pressures on the supply chain while causing unintended harm to American industries themselves
Amid intensifying geopolitical tensions and an escalating tech war, China's tech sector is undergoing a sweeping pivot. Companies like Xiaomi, Lenovo, and Huawei are accelerating the shift to in-house chips and operating systems in a bid to establish technological sovereignty
In recent years, the US government has tightened AI chip export restrictions targeting China, prompting Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang to repeatedly warn that restricting Nvidia's AI chip exports to China actually accelerates the rapid rise of domestic chipmakers like Huawei. At Computex 2025, Huang told global media that Nvidia's market share in China has sharply declined, which will drive Chinese customers to support local chip companies such as Huawei
In January 2025, Qualcomm quietly reentered the competitive server CPU market, setting the stage for a high-stakes comeback nearly seven years after its first effort faltered. Now, amid a global surge in demand for AI infrastructure and ongoing legal wrangling with Arm, the chipmaker is betting that the tides have turned in its favor
The Financial Times recently reported, citing informed sources, that Nvidia plans to establish a new R&D center in Shanghai to strengthen its strategic presence in the Chinese market. The initiative not only responds to China's persistent strong demand for high-end chips but also underscores a pragmatic strategy by the US chip firm to find balance amid rising geopolitical tensions
Xiaomi is set to unveil its latest slate of strategic products at 7 pm CST on May 22, headlined by the long-awaited debut of its in-house smartphone SoC, the XRing O1—a bold play that marks a new chapter in the company's semiconductor ambitions. Xiaomi chairman Lei Jun quickly followed up with technical disclosures, noting that the XRing O1 is built on a second-generation 3nm process and packs 19 billion transistors, putting it in the same league as Apple's A17 Pro from a specification standpoint
