Game-changer? Why China is finally letting its AI firms buy the Nvidia H200

AI Summary

China is poised to allow selected AI firms to purchase Nvidia's H200 GPU, signaling a potential shift amid the ongoing tech tensions between the United States and China. The move reflects Beijing's gradual easing of restrictions to boost technological self-sufficiency while engaging with global AI advancements.

For months, the United States and China have been locked in an unusual stand-off over cutting-edge chips – the building blocks of the artificial intelligence industry. In early 2026, Washington took the rare step of approving Nvidia’s H200 graphics processing unit for export to China, but Beijing has deliberately restricted Chinese firms from purchasing them as it pursues a tech self-sufficiency drive. Now, however, China’s stance is beginning to change, as the government plans to let selected...