Huawei announced on September 17 in Shanghai that two new Ascend artificial intelligence chips will arrive in 2027, earlier than previously planned, and unveiled its Atlas 960E SuperPoD computing system. Reuters and Huawei reported the launch schedule as the Chinese company expands its challenge to Nvidia in AI infrastructure.
Speaking at Huawei Connect, rotating chairman David Wang said the Ascend 960DT is scheduled for the first quarter of 2027 and the Ascend 960PR for the third quarter. Huawei said these dates are three quarters and one quarter ahead of its original roadmap, respectively. The announcement sets out future availability rather than immediate deliveries.
The Atlas 960E combines Ascend 960 processors with Huawei’s Hi-ONE optical interconnect technology. According to the company, one system can link up to 4,096 neural processing units and provide eight exaflops of FP8 computing performance, with up to one petabyte of high-bandwidth memory. These are manufacturer specifications, not independent benchmark results.
Reuters reported that Huawei’s UnifiedBus technology is central to connecting large numbers of chips so they can operate as a larger computing system. Advanced AI applications require more processing power than a single chip can provide. Huawei says its tightly connected SuperPoDs share memory addressing across physical nodes and function as a single logical computer.
The Associated Press placed the announcement in the context of China’s drive for technological self-reliance as US-led restrictions limit access to advanced AI chips and chipmaking equipment. AP also reported that Chinese AI development still often relies on US processors, including Nvidia’s, even as domestic alternatives gain adoption.
Huawei’s next milestones extend beyond 2027: Wang said the Ascend 970 and 980 series are planned for 2028 and 2029, respectively. The company describes an annual cycle for new generations of chips. Its Shanghai conference runs through September 19, while the accelerated 960 launch dates remain targets for next year.
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