Huawei unveils two advanced AI chips as part of its ‘big bet’ on artificial intelligence technology

Huawei Technologies, the world’s largest telecom equipment vendor, has unveiled two artificial intelligence microchips that it says will help extend the application of AI to “all walks of life”.

The Ascend 910 offers the “greatest computing density in a single chip”, Huawei’s rotating chairman Eric Xu Zhijun said during the Huawei Connect 2018 conference in Shanghai on Wednesday.

The companion chip, the Ascend 310, supports “pervasive intelligence for a fully connected, intelligent world”, a key part of the company’s “all scenarios” AI strategy, according to Xu.

The 310 chip is available now while the 910 will released in the second quarter of next year.

Huawei is betting big on AI development which it believes will deliver enormous economic benefits to the company and society in general, with AI-driven automation expected to gradually replace manpower in a large number of jobs and industries.

Amid rising trade tensions with the US, Chinese vice-premier Liu He said last month the country was developing AI in an “open environment” and encouraged companies across the world to engage in intensive collaboration at the corporate and research institute level.

Xu said Huawei’s “full stack” strategy means it can provide AI application developers with “unparalleled computing power and a strong application development platform.”