Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang sent markets buzzing on Wednesday after reportedly telling the Financial Times that “China is going to win the AI race.” The remark, interpreted as a warning that US overregulation and high energy costs could slow innovation — briefly pushed $NVDA shares lower.
However, several hours after the FT published its report, Nvidia issued a separate statement from Jensen on an official X account.
“As I have long said, China is nanoseconds behind America in AI. It’s vital that America wins by racing ahead and winning developers worldwide,” he added.
Huang has long stated that the US can stay ahead in the AI race if it keeps developers reliant on Nvidia’s leading AI chips — an argument the CEO has used to lobby against export restrictions on his company’s sales to China.
The clarification came as Nvidia faces growing pressure from both Washington and Beijing. While the US recently allowed limited AI chip sales to China in exchange for a 15% revenue cut, Beijing has since barred purchases from major domestic firms, effectively freezing Nvidia’s China business.
Huang’s remarks reflect Nvidia’s balancing act between two superpowers driving the AI boom. His comments also highlight a key message to US policymakers: excessive regulation could risk America’s lead in the global AI race.
Related: Jensen Huang Says Nvidia Went From 95% Market Share to 0% in China
