During the company’s annual developer conference, Jensen Huang, the founder and CEO of Nvidia, refuted claims that Nvidia was in talks to take over Intel's chip manufacturing operations. Huang described these claims as false, stating, "If there’s a party, nobody invited me."

Reuters reported last week that TSMC, a Taiwanese semiconductor manufacturer, was in discussions with Nvidia, along with AMD and Broadcom, about forming a joint venture to gain control over Intel’s chip production, which has been struggling operationally.

In response, Huang firmly rejected the claims, saying, "I don’t know where this came from. No one invited me to the party. Maybe others are involved, but not me."

Nvidia's Position on AI Chip Export Restrictions
Huang also commented on the recent export restrictions on AI chips enacted by the Biden administration during its final days. These restrictions classify countries into three categories.

Countries in the first category, including the United States and 17 others such as Belgium, Canada, Australia, Denmark, France, Germany, and the UK, will experience no export limitations. Conversely, nations in the third category, such as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, face a complete prohibition on AI chip exports.

150 countries, including Poland, Mexico, Israel, Singapore, and the UAE, fall into the second category, which allows AI chip exports under certain computing power restrictions.

When asked about these export regulations, Huang stated, "In the long run, I believe AI is a technology that every nation, every industry, and every enterprise requires.

AI is already widespread. We discuss AI as if it’s some extraordinary technology, but it’s merely software. Every nation will be able to run software. If possible, we’d like to support every country with American technology and standards. It benefits countries to access the necessary computing power and is also advantageous for the United States."

Minimal Impact of Trump's Tariffs on Nvidia
Concerning the effects of tariffs from the Trump administration on Nvidia, Huang predicted only a minor impact.

"We operate a highly adaptable supply network. Not just in Taiwan, Mexico, or Vietnam, but in numerous locations. It’s a complicated issue, depending on which country faces the tariffs. Thus, in the near term, we don’t anticipate any considerable effect on our operations. Long-term, we aim to sustain our flexibility through local production. If we can enhance local production in our supply chain by the year's end, our situation will be quite favorable. We have the capacity to manufacture significantly in the U.S. Not everything, but a great deal."

Nvidia’s Response to Chip Export Restrictions to China
Huang also addressed how Nvidia is managing the chip export limitations to China, imposed by the Biden administration in the fall of 2023. He remarked, "We are fundamentally committed to running our business, complying with the law, and striving to compete and serve our customers. As the world grows more complex, we must adhere to the law and strive to serve our customers and markets. 50% of the world’s AI researchers are from China. The second place isn’t even close. Therefore, it’s logical for there to be a substantial contribution to AI research from China. Every AI lab in the U.S. has numerous outstanding Chinese researchers, without exception. China produces many excellent computer scientists, so please continue this effort."

Energy Demands for AI Data Centers
Finally, Huang spoke about the substantial energy demands of constructing data centers for AI model development, suggesting that the conversation around energy use in AI was misrepresented. "AI is a new manufacturing industry. And manufacturing requires energy. The question is, does a nation want to produce AI? If yes, then energy is necessary. Among all energy-consuming sectors, which should be prioritized for production? Cement? Steel? Agriculture? AI? That’s a straightforward question."

Further Insights on Nvidia’s Strategy and Market Position
Under Jensen Huang’s guidance, Nvidia has reinforced its position as a frontrunner in the AI and GPU markets. The company is noted for its groundbreaking efforts in AI, deep learning, and high-performance computing. Huang’s comments at the conference highlight the company’s stance on global challenges, including international relations, technological advancement, and supply chain adaptability.

Nvidia’s emphasis on AI and machine learning has established it as a vital contributor to data center development, AI research, and high-performance computing. Huang's remarks underscore the necessity of maintaining a flexible, diverse supply chain and the importance of international collaboration in AI research and development.

As the company navigates regulatory challenges, such as trade limitations and export restrictions, it remains devoted to broadening its technology and standards globally, ensuring that nations and industries have access to essential computing power.

The company's vision for AI coincides with a future where nations and industries can fully leverage the capabilities of artificial intelligence while addressing the intricacies of the global technology environment.