China's top AI firms, including Huawei, SenseTime, and StepFun, have formed two new alliances to reduce reliance on US technology, particularly Nvidia chips, due to US export restrictions. The alliances aim to create a self-sufficient AI ecosystem in China by integrating the entire AI value chain, from chip production to model deployment.
The Model-Chip Ecosystem Innovation Alliance unites AI chip manufacturers like Huawei, Biren, and Moore Threads with large language model developers like StepFun. The goal is to form a groundbreaking ecosystem linking hardware, AI models, and infrastructure. Meanwhile, the Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce AI Committee focuses on promoting AI adoption across industries, with participants like SenseTime, StepFun, and chipmakers Metax and Iluvatar CoreX.
This move is seen as a strategic effort to counter the impact of US sanctions on China's AI development. By creating a unified tech stack with domestic-powered standardization, China aims to reduce its dependence on foreign technology and become a leader in the AI industry.
Recent innovations in China's AI sector have been impressive, with Huawei's CloudMatrix 384 outperforming Nvidia's GB200 NVL72 in certain performance metrics. Metax's AI Supernode, featuring 128 C550 chips, is designed for large-scale liquid-cooled data centers. Tencent's Hunyuan3D World Model 1.0 enables users to generate interactive 3D environments using text or image inputs, while Baidu's Digital Human Tool uses cloning technology to mimic human voice, tone, and gestures with just 10 minutes of sample data.
These developments demonstrate China's commitment to advancing its AI capabilities and reducing its reliance on US technology. As the global AI landscape continues to evolve, China's efforts to create a self-sufficient AI ecosystem will likely have significant implications for the industry.
