Recently, NVIDIA, the global leader in artificial intelligence chip production, finds itself amidst international policy debates, yet undeterred, they are pushing forward with the development of a new AI-focused GPU specifically tailored for the Chinese market.
Based on information leaked by two unidentified sources (as reported by Reuters), it appears that NVIDIA’s upcoming AI chip is expected to utilize the most recent version of the Blackwell architecture, which underpins their latest consumer RTX graphics cards. This new chip is rumored to surpass the performance capabilities of the highly regarded H20 AI GPU, a device that has garnered significant interest from both Chinese and American officials.
The latest Blackwell chip, known as the B30A, employs a single-die architecture, thereby reducing the raw power of NVIDIA’s top-tier AI GPU, the B300, roughly in half. Similar to the H20 chip, it will incorporate NVIDIA NVLink and high-bandwidth memory technology, yet is predicted to be significantly stronger overall.
According to sources, NVIDIA is planning to provide sample units of the B30A to Chinese customers potentially by the end of next month, although the exact specifications are still under development.
Is NVIDIA getting ahead of itself with its new B30A AI chip?
NVIDIA could appear to be venturing too far ahead with its innovative B30A AI chip. However, the company has encountered multiple challenges in trying to market its AI hardware in China due to concerns about national security raised by both Beijing and Washington, which they need to address.
As a researcher, I find myself working with the NVIDIA H20 AI GPU, a device that’s been designed utilizing the Hopper architecture. Interestingly, due to the enforcement of stricter export controls under the Biden administration in 2023, the H20 has been slightly scaled back compared to its predecessor, the H200. This adjustment was necessitated by the new regulations.
In the spring of 2025, I observed that the Trump administration implemented a strict prohibition on sending the high-performance H20 GPUs to China. This decision resulted in NVIDIA recording a significant $5.5 billion loss and an excess inventory of AI chips, which they were now unable to export.
Three months on from our initial discussions, I’m thrilled to share that I’ve successfully negotiated an agreement for the export of our H20 chip to China. This significant milestone was achieved after a productive meeting I had with President Trump at the White House.
A significant point made by Huang during his discussion with Trump was emphasizing that U.S. technology must remain the benchmark for Artificial Intelligence development on a global scale, regardless of any political disagreements. In Huang’s opinion, compromising on this front would be a serious blunder.
We advocate for civil models to perform optimally using American technological infrastructure, thereby fostering a global trend toward adopting US tech solutions.
Jensen Huang, NVIDIA CEO
Sam Altman, the head of OpenAI, has echoed the views of NVIDIA’s CEO regarding export controls, arguing that they are not an effective means to slow down China’s advancement in the artificial intelligence competition.
NVIDIA promptly ordered an additional 300,000 H20 AI GPUs from TSMC, increasing their stockpile to between 600,000 and 700,000 chips, ready for sale. To give a sense of scale, it’s predicted that NVIDIA might have sold around 1 million H20 AI chips in the year 2024, considering the tighter export controls implemented by the Biden administration.
Will Trump’s AI chip tax open the door for more exports?
On August 10, it emerged that NVIDIA and AMD had unexpectedly decided to contribute 15% of their earnings from certain AI chip sales, such as the H20 model, to the U.S. government if these sales were made to China.
The introduction of this chip tax is unprecedented, and its legality remains uncertain. Regardless, NVIDIA seems determined to capitalize on the situation.
As a fervent supporter, I abide by the regulations established by the U.S. government regarding our engagement in global markets. For quite some time now, we haven’t exported H20 to China, but I eagerly anticipate that the export control rules will allow America to compete effectively not only in China but also globally. It’s crucial that we don’t repeat the mistake of ceding 5G technology leadership; we must remain competitive in telecommunications. Our advanced Artificial Intelligence technology could become the global standard if we intensify our efforts and race against other nations in this domain.
NVIDIA
The sudden change in export restrictions has raised security concerns among officials. Earlier this year, the advanced H20 chip was deemed too valuable to sell to China, with suspicions that they might be employing AI for military enhancement. However, as President Trump himself noted when announcing the 15% chip tax, “The H20 is no longer cutting-edge.
On China’s part, comparable apprehensions are warranted. The sudden policy shift has sparked worries about NVIDIA’s chips potentially incorporating some kind of spyware or deactivation feature. It’s been reported that leading Chinese AI companies have faced pressure from their authorities to abstain from using the H20 chip.
As an analyst, I would rephrase it this way: In response to growing worries, NVIDIA’s Chief Security Officer, David Reber Jr., published a blog post entitled “No Backdoors. No Kill Switches. No Spyware.” This was his effort to allay these concerns and assure the public about the company’s commitment to data security and privacy.
It appears that the export licenses essential for NVIDIA’s H20 AI GPUs might be revoked at short notice, which raises questions about the company’s decision to proceed with its B30A chip development plan. According to NVIDIA, they are simply preparing for future possibilities.
We assess a range of products to include them in our strategic plan, ensuring we’re well-equipped to compete within government regulations. All our offerings are officially approved by the relevant authorities and intended exclusively for legitimate commercial purposes.
NVIDIA
On previous occasions, there have been mentions of a fresh Blackwell chip tailored for China made in public. At his Artificial Intelligence chip tariff news conference, President Trump pointed out this fact.
Jensen now possesses the updated chip, the Blackwell, albeit a slightly less advanced model. To put it another way, there’s a 30% to 50% discount on it. I believe he’ll return for an appointment regarding that, but this time it will be the standard version of the main one.
From a commercial standpoint, NVIDIA is taking necessary steps. Last year, China accounted for approximately 13% of NVIDIA’s business, and given that Chinese-made AI chips, particularly those from Huawei, are rapidly closing the gap in quality with NVIDIA’s scaled-down products, it’s understandable that NVIDIA aims to maintain its market share by introducing a new Blackwell chip.
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2025-08-21 00:12