Huawei Targets AI Independence with New Inference Technology

Huawei unveils a breakthrough AI inference solution at the 2025 Financial AI Reasoning Application Forum, aiming to cut China’s dependence on foreign high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips and boost domestic AI capabilities.

Huawei Targets AI Independence with New Inference Technology

Huawei has announced a new AI inference technology at the 2025 Financial AI Reasoning Application Forum on August 12, aiming to reduce China’s reliance on high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips a key component for high-performance AI systems. This innovation comes amid ongoing US sanctions that restrict Huawei’s access to advanced semiconductor technologies.

The annual forum is a major platform for showcasing AI solutions in the financial sector, where real-time data processing and high-speed inference are crucial. Huawei’s latest development reportedly eliminates the need for imported HBM chips, which are currently dominated by South Korean and US suppliers, by introducing an alternative architecture optimized for large-scale AI workloads.

Why This Matters for AI and China’s Tech Independence

AI inference the stage where trained models generate predictions or insights  demands ultra-fast memory access. Traditionally, HBM chips have been the go-to choice because of their high bandwidth and low latency, which are essential for large language models (LLMs) and other complex AI systems.

However, due to US sanctions, Huawei’s access to these chips has been severely limited. This has prompted the company to accelerate its in-house R&D efforts to develop homegrown solutions that not only match but potentially surpass the performance of existing HBM-based systems.

Industry experts believe that if Huawei’s new technology delivers on its promise, it could reshape China’s AI hardware ecosystem by strengthening domestic supply chains and reducing dependency on foreign semiconductor manufacturers.

Broader Implications Beyond Huawei

Huawei has been building self-reliant technology stacks since being placed on the US Entity List in 2019, focusing on chip design, AI frameworks, and specialized hardware. This new inference solution fits into that long-term vision of vertical integration, where the company controls both hardware and software components.

While Huawei has yet to disclose specific technical details, analysts speculate that the innovation could involve new memory architectures, AI-specific data processing methods, or hybrid computing approaches. If successful, it could inspire other Chinese tech firms to pursue similar independence-driven strategies.

Given AI’s critical role in finance, defense, and next-generation services, Huawei’s move could have global competitive consequences, potentially shifting the balance of AI infrastructure power away from traditional Western and Korean suppliers.

Key Takeaways

• Event: 2025 Financial AI Reasoning Application Forum, August 12.

• Goal: Reduce reliance on foreign HBM chips for AI inference.

• Impact: Strengthen China’s domestic AI ecosystem amid US sanctions.

• Future Outlook: Could set the stage for a more self-sufficient AI supply chain in China