Nvidia chief Jensen Huang delivered a blunt assessment on Wednesday, declaring that China is poised to win the global AI race unless the United States eases export restrictions and embraces the world’s largest developer base.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Financial Times Future of AI Summit in London, Huang told the newspaper, “China is going to win the AI race.” In a subsequent X post , he clarified, “As I have long said, China is nanoseconds behind America in AI. America must win by racing ahead and winning developers worldwide.”
Huang pointed to China’s edge in cheap energy—subsidized to near zero for data centers—versus potential U.S. regulatory hurdles across 50 states. Nvidia , valued at over $3 trillion, powers most advanced AI globally, but U.S. export controls bar its top chips from China, a market worth $50 billion to the company.
The CEO has pushed for broader access to maintain dominance. At last month’s Nvidia developers’ conference in Washington, he said, “We want America to win this AI race. No doubt about that. We want the world to be built on the American tech stack. But we also need to be in China to win their developers.”
President Trump affirmed Sunday that Blackwell chips would stay U.S.-exclusive, though less advanced versions might reach China. Nvidia hasn’t sought licenses, citing Beijing’s stance. Critics like Rep. John Moolenaar warn that any loosening aids China’s military AI.
Nvidia countered with a 260,000-chip deal to South Korea, including Samsung. Huang’s warning highlights a strategic bind: protect security or risk losing half the world’s AI talent. Ignoring it could hand China the lead sooner than expected.
