Pony.ai says China has a backup plan for Nvidia chip limits

Wang said demand for computing resources at Pony.ai far exceeds supply. The company asks engineers to use training models efficiently, which can mean choosing midtier computing resources rather than high-end options. It is also relying more on chips made in China to help narrow the gap.

“Domestic chips in China also get lots of attention and development,” Wang said, describing them as another option for AI training that gives the company flexibility. If restrictions on Nvidia shipments tighten, he said, Chinese companies have already been practicing a “Plan B” for a few years. Alternatives exist and are more mature than they were several years ago, he said, though they are not yet the most cost-effective choice.

Nvidia supplies AI computing technology across the autonomous-vehicle industry. Some companies use its automotive processors to run driving software; others use its GPUs to train models. Mercedes-Benz, Zoox and Wayve have full-stack partnerships with the company.

The discussion came amid broader attention to China’s technology sector at Web Summit in Portugal. Co-founder Paddy Cosgrave said the superstars of the future would come from China rather than California and praised Chinese companies’ role in developing open-source technology. The article also reported, without further substantiation, that Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang had resigned after admitting to an affair with an alleged spy.