HUAWEI plans to launch its latest artificial intelligence (AI) chip in South Korea next year, as part of a full-scale push into the local AI infrastructure market, the Korea Times reported.

Balian Wang, CEO of Huawei Korea, stated at a press conference in Seoul on Friday that the company intends to roll out AI computing cards and AI data center solutions in the country next year. He also expressed hopes to introduce the Ascend 950, Huawei’s latest AI processor, which is slated for production starting next year.

Unlike Nvidia, Huawei does not plan to sell the chip separately, Wang noted. Instead, the company intends to supply the Ascend 950 in cluster configurations. He emphasized that Huawei’s strategy goes beyond merely offering AI cards or servers and focuses on accelerating the industrial adoption of AI.

To this end, Huawei aims to strengthen its competitiveness by providing end-to-end solutions that integrate infrastructure hardware — including networking and storage — with software. Wang added that under this model, external partners for supply and sales may not be necessary, as Huawei plans to directly integrate and service its solutions. The company is reportedly already in talks with potential customers regarding supply arrangements.

Huawei Korea also plans to provide its self-developed open-source operating system, HarmonyOS, to Korean companies next year to help foster a local ecosystem. Wang clarified that ownership of the OS no longer rests with Huawei, as open-source organizations now oversee its operation and upgrades. He noted that HarmonyOS can be used not only in smartphones but also across a wide range of smart home devices. However, Wang confirmed that Huawei has no plans to launch smartphones in South Korea next year.(SD-Agencies)