Published Date : 7/29/2025
In the global race for AI supremacy, Chinese companies have decided to form an alliance to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers and build a domestic ecosystem. Facial recognition developer SenseTime, which has pivoted to Large Language Models (LLMs), is among those involved in the alliance.
SenseTime, like fellow alliance participant Huawei, is sanctioned by the U.S., with export limits for key technologies to China and bans on their import into America. Nvidia, one of the most important chipmakers for the AI industry, was restricted in supplying its most advanced GPUs to China until very recently.
Chinese AI developers and chipmakers have announced the “Model-Chip Ecosystem Innovation Alliance” at the opening of the 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai. The alliance includes Chinese LLM developers StepFun and MiniMax, and AI chipmakers such as Biren, Huawei, Illuvatar CoreX, Metax, and Moore Threads.
“This is an innovative ecosystem that connects the complete technology chain from chips to models to infrastructure,” said Zhao Lidong, CEO of chipmaker Enflame, another alliance member.
In addition, StepFun revealed a second alliance: the Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce AI Committee to “promote the deep integration of AI technology and industrial transformation.”
As StepFun announced the new alliances at WAIC, the Shanghai conference also saw unveilings of new technology. Baidu showed off NOVA, a “digital human” tool, which features “cloning technology” that can reproduce a human’s voice biometrics and body language from only 10 minutes of sample footage. It marketed this as a way for businesses to create virtual livestreamers.
Huawei’s CloudMatrix 384, which according to U.S. research firm SemiAnalysis outperforms Nvidia’s GB200 NVL72, drew excited chatter. The way it’s designed allows the 384 910C chips clustered together to compensate for less powerful individual chip performance, SemiAnalysis said.
Q: What is the purpose of the Model-Chip Ecosystem Innovation Alliance?
A: The Model-Chip Ecosystem Innovation Alliance aims to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers and build a robust domestic ecosystem for AI technology in China.
Q: Which companies are part of the alliance?
A: The alliance includes Chinese LLM developers StepFun and MiniMax, and AI chipmakers such as Biren, Huawei, Illuvatar CoreX, Metax, and Moore Threads.
Q: What sanctions are SenseTime and Huawei facing?
A: SenseTime and Huawei are sanctioned by the U.S., with export limits for key technologies to China and bans on their import into America.
Q: What new technology was unveiled at the 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC)?
A: Baidu unveiled NOVA, a ‘digital human’ tool, and Huawei presented the CloudMatrix 384, which outperforms Nvidia’s GB200 NVL72 according to U.S. research firm SemiAnalysis.
Q: How does the CloudMatrix 384 outperform Nvidia’s GB200 NVL72?
A: The CloudMatrix 384 is designed to allow the 384 910C chips to be clustered together, compensating for less powerful individual chip performance, thus outperforming Nvidia’s GB200 NVL72.