Powerhouse chipmaker Nvidia Corp. unveiled an updated, faster chip this week aimed at cementing the company’s dominance in artificial intelligence. The Grace Hopper Superchip, named for the trailblazing American computer scientist, will go into production in the second quarter of 2024.
President Joe Biden issued an executive order to take effect next year that will limit US investments in China, focused on chips, quantum computing and AI companies. The UK is considering whether to follow suit, citing a need to strike a balance between promoting national security with the economic necessity of trading with China.
The constraints are weighing on Chinese efforts to ramp up AI training. Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. Chief Daniel Zhang said the company hasn’t been able to completely fulfill demand for AI training from clients because of global supply constraints.
In the face of these tightening export controls, Chinese chipmakers are speeding up investments in mature semiconductor equipment, according to Tokyo Electron Ltd.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., along with other chipmakers, agreed to build an $11 billion plant in Germany. The facility will provide chips for the automotive and industrial sectors and is a first step for TSMC in establishing a major European presence to counter risks from escalating US-China tensions.
