Nvidia CEO ‘Disappointed’ by Reports of Chinese Ban on AI Chips

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has expressed disappointment over reports that China has ordered its leading tech companies to stop purchasing the firm’s artificial intelligence (AI) chips, escalating tensions in the global tech industry.

Speaking to BBC News, Huang urged the US to ensure open access to technology worldwide, including China.
“The advance of human society is not a zero-sum game,” he said. “We must make sure people can access this technology from all over the world, including China.”

Huang is among several top tech executives, including Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, accompanying US President Donald Trump on his state visit to the UK.

“President Trump is very clear – he wants America to win. President Xi wants China to win. It’s possible for both of them to,” Huang added, expressing optimism that ongoing tensions would eventually be resolved.

The reported ban comes just months after Trump lifted restrictions that had previously blocked Nvidia from selling its most advanced chips to China. Under a deal struck in July, Nvidia must pay 15% of its Chinese revenues to the US government – a move seen as unprecedented in the tech sector.

However, according to a Financial Times report, China’s Cyberspace Administration has now instructed domestic tech firms to halt the use of Nvidia chips designed specifically for the Chinese market. Companies such as DeepSeek, Tencent, and Alibaba were reportedly affected by the directive.

Nvidia’s shares slipped by over 1% in premarket trading following the news.

Huang said he would back the US government as it navigates geopolitical tensions and would discuss the issue with Trump if asked during Wednesday evening’s state banquet in London, where leading tech executives are expected to gather.

The reported move comes amid ongoing trade negotiations between the US and China in Europe this week. On Monday, China’s market regulator accused Nvidia of violating anti-monopoly laws, though it provided no further details.

Nvidia has become a central player in the AI revolution, with its chips powering data centers globally. China, meanwhile, is ramping up efforts to develop its own AI chip technology as part of its strategy to challenge US dominance in the sector.

Despite the tensions, Nvidia recently announced major investments in the UK as part of a bilateral tech pact. This includes supplying chips to the Stargate UK data center, a project developed in collaboration with OpenAI, Arm, and NScale, scheduled to open in northeast England.