Chinese AI startup DeepSeek has released its latest model, DeepSeek V4, which runs on processors from domestic chipmaker Huawei. The move signals Beijing's push for technological self-sufficiency and directly challenges US-based Nvidia's stronghold on the AI hardware market.
DeepSeek V4 is optimized for Huawei's Ascend AI chips, demonstrating strong performance in long-context processing and computing efficiency—areas where it claims to outperform many existing models. The release comes amid escalating US export controls, which have restricted China's access to advanced Nvidia chips like the A100 and H100.
Industry analysts view this as a step toward reducing reliance on foreign semiconductors. However, Huawei's chips are manufactured using less advanced process nodes, potentially limiting raw performance compared to Nvidia's latest offerings.
The launch underscores the intensifying race between US and Chinese tech firms to dominate the next wave of artificial intelligence.