The company’s next big AI chip may not ship in large numbers until next year, reports The Information.
In a surprising turn of events, Nvidia has informed Microsoft and at least one other cloud provider that its highly anticipated “Blackwell” B200 AI chips will face a production delay of at least three months. This delay, reported by The Information, stems from a design flaw discovered unusually late in the production process, according to two unnamed sources, including a Microsoft employee.
The B200 chips are set to be the successors to Nvidia’s immensely popular and hard-to-acquire H100 chips. These H100 chips currently power a significant portion of the artificial intelligence cloud infrastructure and have played a crucial role in propelling Nvidia to its status as one of the world’s most valuable companies. In a statement shared with The Verge, Nvidia spokesperson John Rizzo stated, “Nvidia expects production of the chip to ramp in the second half of the year. Beyond that, we don’t comment on rumors.”
To address the issue, Nvidia is reportedly conducting a new series of test runs with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, its chip production partner. However, large-scale shipments of the Blackwell chips are not expected until the first quarter of next year. According to The Information, tech giants like Microsoft, Google, and Meta have already placed orders worth “tens of billions of dollars” for these next-gen chips.
This development follows Nvidia’s earlier announcement that “Blackwell-based products will be available from partners starting in 2024.” The B200 chips are slated to inaugurate a new annual cycle of AI chip releases from Nvidia, coinciding with efforts by competitors like AMD to introduce their own AI chip solutions.
Key Points:
- Unexpected Delay: Nvidia’s Blackwell B200 AI chips are delayed by at least three months due to a late-stage design flaw.
- Impact: The B200 chips are the follow-up to the highly sought-after H100 chips, integral to the AI cloud landscape.
- Production Plans: Nvidia is working with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company on new test runs, with large shipments expected in early next year.
- Industry Impact: Major tech companies, including Microsoft, Google, and Meta, have pre-ordered significant quantities of the new chips.
Nvidia’s announcement highlights the complexities and challenges inherent in the rapid advancement of AI technology. As the company navigates these hurdles, the tech industry eagerly awaits the next generation of AI hardware that promises to push the boundaries of what is possible in artificial intelligence.
