China is ‘nanoseconds behind’ US in chips, Nvidia’s Jensen Huang says

Washington should allow its technology industry to compete globally – including in China – to “proliferate the technology around the world” and thereby “maximise America’s economic success and geopolitical influence”, he said.

China is “nanoseconds behind” the US, “so we’ve got to go compete”, Huang said, highlighting China’s progress in chipmaking and its manufacturing potential. He pointed to the country’s deep pool of talent, hustling work culture and internal competition across its provinces.

“This is a vibrant, entrepreneurial, hi-tech, modern industry,” he said on BG2, a podcast hosted by tech investors Brad Gerstner and Bill Gurley.

Huang added that he hoped and believed China would remain open to outside investment, noting that Beijing has pledged to maintain “an open market”.

“What’s in the best interest of China is for foreign companies to invest in China, compete in China and for them to also have vibrant competition themselves,” he said on an episode released on Friday. “They would also like to come out of China and participate around the world.”