Jensen Huang Says Nvidia Looking Beyond Hopper Series for Chinese Market
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang confirmed on Saturday that the company will not release another chip from the Hopper series for China following U.S. export restrictions[2][3]. This announcement comes as the tech giant evaluates its strategy for the Chinese market after the U.S. government placed limits on sales of its Hopper H20 chip.
"It's not Hopper because it's not possible to modify Hopper anymore," Huang stated during an event that was livestreamed by Taiwan's Formosa TV News network[3]. The CEO has consistently emphasized that China remains critical to Nvidia's growth, even visiting the country immediately after the U.S. implemented new restrictions on China-bound shipments of its H20 chips[3].
Future Plans for the Chinese Market
Despite the restrictions, Nvidia is reportedly planning to release a downgraded version of the H20 chip for China within the next two months[2]. This move aims to maintain the company's position in the Chinese market, where it has recently lost market share to domestic competitors like Huawei[3].
The restrictions stem from the U.S. Framework for Artificial Intelligence Diffusion, which was issued in January 2025 shortly before the end of President Biden's administration[3]. This framework was designed to limit AI chip exports to most countries.
Critical Revenue at Stake
China represents a significant portion of Nvidia's business, generating $17 billion in revenue for the fiscal year ending January 26, 2025, which accounts for approximately 13% of the company's total sales[2][3]. This makes the Chinese market a crucial component of Nvidia's global strategy.
Huang has expressed criticism of previous AI export regulations, stating they were misguided and should have instead focused on maximizing U.S. technology globally[3]. There may be changes on the horizon, as President Trump has indicated he will cancel the AI diffusion rules introduced by the Biden administration[3].
Upcoming Announcements Expected
Jensen Huang is scheduled to deliver a keynote address at Computex 2025 on Sunday, May 18, where he may provide more details on Nvidia's strategy for navigating these restrictions[1]. The keynote, which will be streamed live from Taipei at 11 p.m. ET, is anticipated to showcase Nvidia's latest innovations and possibly announce new collaborations[1].
Last year's Computex saw Nvidia unveil the successor to its Blackwell AI chip, called Rubin, which led to a surge in the company's share prices[1]. Huang previously mentioned that Rubin remains on track for a 2026 launch[1].
