Nvidia CEO chooses China over Trump’s inauguration: Visits his employees in Beijing and thanks them for loyalty

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang recently visited China to celebrate Chinese New Year with employees and reaffirm the company’s commitment to its workforce and technological collaboration. The visit comes amidst ongoing US-China geopolitical tensions and export restrictions on advanced AI chips. Huang aimed to lift employee morale and highlight Nvidia’s dedication to China’s technology sector. The visit highlights the importance of maintaining global cooperation to drive technological progress, even amidst rising geopolitical tensions.

Huang attended events in Nvidia’s Shenzhen and Beijing offices, including a Spring Festival celebration in Beijing. Praising the team, he highlighted Nvidia China’s low turnover rate of 0.9%, compared to a global average of 2%. Over the years, Nvidia’s workforce in China has grown by more than 50%, reaching nearly 4,000 employees. Huang acknowledged the employees’ loyalty and significant contribution to Nvidia’s global success.

China’s Role in Nvidia’s Growth

China is a crucial market for Nvidia, contributing $5.4 billion in revenue during Q3 FY2024, a 34% year-over-year increase. The region accounts for 17% of Nvidia’s total revenue and remains one of the company’s largest markets after the US and Singapore. Nvidia has collaborated with over 3,000 Chinese start-ups and supports 1.5 million local developers using CUDA, its proprietary AI programming platform.

Geopolitical Challenges

The visit coincided with tightened US export controls on AI chips, targeting China. Nvidia has expressed opposition to these restrictions, warning that they could harm innovation and US technological leadership. In response, China announced an antitrust investigation into Nvidia. Despite these challenges, Huang reiterated Nvidia’s commitment to the Chinese market, describing the company’s 25-year journey in China as an honor.

Huang’s visit also fueled speculation about Nvidia’s potential Asia-Pacific headquarters, with Taiwan being a possible location. As China continues to focus on technological self-reliance, Huang emphasized Nvidia’s role in modernizing the sector and reaffirmed the company’s dedication to supporting innovation and collaboration.