Nvidia preparing a version of new Blackwell AI chip for China market, sources say

Nvidia is working on a version of its new flagship artificial intelligence (AI) chips for the China market that would be compatible with current US export controls, four sources familiar with the matter said.

Chief executive Jensen Huang in March unveiled Nvidia’s Blackwell series, which is set for mass production later this year. The new graphics processing units (GPUs) combine two squares of silicon the size of the company’s previous offering. Within the series, the B200 is 30 times speedier than its predecessor at some tasks like serving up answers from chatbots.

Nvidia will work with Inspur, one of its major distributor partners in China, on the launch and distribution of the chip which is tentatively named the “B20”, two of the sources said. Shipments of the “B20” are planned to start in the second quarter of 2025, a separate source told Reuters.