Some in China see custom AI chips, which can offer superior performance to conventional integrated circuits even when manufactured using older processes, as helping the country loosen its dependence on the US in core technology.
China has made self-reliance in core technologies a key initiative, but the country remains at least one to two generations behind the US in the critical field of semiconductors, according to industry veteran.
As part of the ambitious “Made in China 2025” blueprint, Chinese officials have set the semiconductor industry a goal of reaching US$305 billion in output by 2030, and meeting 80 per cent of domestic demand. In 2016, China produced US$65 billion of semiconductors and supplied 33 per cent of the domestic market. This is how Beijing hopes to make this happen