Nvidia CEO Downplays China Military Concerns Ahead of Visit

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang dismissed U.S. fears that his company’s chips could aid China’s military, saying Beijing “can’t rely” on American tech due to ongoing restrictions. In a CNN interview, Huang argued China already has enough computing power and doesn't need Nvidia's chips for military use. He also criticized U.S. export controls as counterproductive, warning they hurt American tech leadership by limiting access to half the world’s AI developers many of whom are in China.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.

Huang’s comments come days before his second trip to China this year and after warnings from U.S. lawmakers not to engage with entities tied to China’s military. Despite acknowledging concerns about startups like DeepSeek, which used Nvidia chips and may support Chinese intelligence, Huang defended open-source AI as a global benefit. Experts note Huang is trying to balance U.S. policy and Chinese market access, though risks of military misuse remain a concern.