Huawei targets Korea's AI infrastructure market with Ascend 950 chip

Balian Wang, CEO of Huawei Korea, speaks during a press conference in Seoul, Friday. Yonhap

Huawei hopes to launch its latest artificial intelligence (AI) chip in Korea next year as it makes a full-scale push into the local AI infrastructure market, aiming to position itself as an alternative to Nvidia.

Balian Wang, CEO of Huawei Korea, said at a press conference in Seoul on Friday that the company plans to roll out AI computing cards and AI data center solutions in Korea next year. He added that Huawei hopes to introduce the Ascend 950, its latest AI processor, which is slated for production starting next year.

Unlike Nvidia, Huawei does not plan to sell the chip on a standalone basis, Wang said, noting that the company intends to supply the Ascend 950 in cluster configurations. He added that Huawei’s strategy goes beyond simply providing AI cards or servers, focusing instead on accelerating the industrial adoption of AI.

To that end, Huawei plans to strengthen its competitiveness by offering end-to-end solutions that integrate infrastructure hardware, including networking and storage, with software. Wang added that under this model, partners for supply and sales may not be necessary, as Huawei aims to directly integrate and service its solutions. The company is reportedly in talks with potential customers over possible supply arrangements.

In addition, Huawei Korea plans to supply HarmonyOS, the open-source operating system it developed, to Korean companies next year to help foster a local ecosystem. Wang said ownership no longer rests with Huawei, with open-source organizations now overseeing its operation and upgrades, adding that the OS can be used not only in smartphones but also across a wide range of smart home devices.

However, he said Huawei has no plans to launch smartphones in Korea next year.