Tech Brief (Jan. 30): Alibaba Unveils New AI Chip to Rival Nvidia’s China Offerings

Published: Jan. 30, 2026 11:33 a.m. GMT+8

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Alibaba unveils new AI chip to rival Nvidia’s China offerings

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.’s chip arm has launched a new artificial intelligence (AI) processor, positioning it between Nvidia Corp.’s A800 and H20 as the group prepares a semiconductor spinoff amid China’s AI chip boom. According to information posted on T-Head’s website on Thursday, the new chip, named Zhenwu 810E, integrates AI training and inference capabilities and is identified as the PPU model previously glimpsed in a CCTV broadcast in September 2025. In terms of hardware parameters, the processor sits between Nvidia’s A800 and H20, the two modified chips the U.S. company released to comply with export controls targeting China.

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Alibaba launched the Zhenwu 810E AI chip, positioned between Nvidia’s A800 and H20, ahead of a semiconductor spinoff.
Four robotics firms, including Galbot and Unitree, will feature humanoid robots at the 2026 Spring Festival Gala; the 2025 gala drew 16.8 billion views.
SK Hynix plans a $10 billion investment in a new U.S. AI subsidiary; Kunshan city announced a $720 million AI fund for local industry growth.

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Who’s Who

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.: Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.'s chip arm has launched the Zhenwu 810E, a new AI processor that integrates AI training and inference capabilities. This chip is positioned between Nvidia's A800 and H20, demonstrating Alibaba's advancements in semiconductor technology amid China's AI chip boom.

Nvidia Corp.: Nvidia Corp. is mentioned in the article in the context of its A800 and H20 chips, which are targeted offerings for China. Alibaba's new AI processor, the Zhenwu 810E, is positioned between these two Nvidia chip models in terms of hardware parameters. Nvidia's chips have been modified to comply with U.S. export controls aimed at China.

T-Head: T-Head is Alibaba's chip arm. It recently launched the Zhenwu 810E, an AI processor designed for both training and inference. This chip is positioned between Nvidia's A800 and H20, two models modified by Nvidia to comply with U.S. export controls for China.

Noetix Robotics: Noetix Robotics is one of four Chinese robotics companies that signed deals to showcase their technology at the 2026 Spring Festival Gala. This high-profile exposure at the world's most-watched television event highlights the rapid commercialization of China's robotics sector. Noetix Robotics, alongside others, contributes to a range of innovations from robot dogs to bipedal humanoids.

Unitree Robotics: Unitree Robotics, a Chinese robotics company, will showcase its technology at the 2026 Spring Festival Gala. This high-profile exposure at the world's most-watched television event highlights the rapid commercialization of China's robotics sector. Supported by investors, Unitree Robotics is among the startups developing consumer-ready embodied AI products.

Beijing Galbot Co. Ltd.: Beijing Galbot Co. Ltd. is a Chinese robotics company that will showcase its technology at the 2026 Spring Festival Gala. They offer innovations including bipedal humanoids capable of sophisticated tasks. Galbot recently released its first industrial-grade embodied intelligence heavy-duty robot, the Galbot S1, which features a dual-arm load capacity of 50 kilograms and is designed for complex industrial environments.

MagicLab: MagicLab is one of four Chinese robotics companies that secured deals to showcase their technology at the 2026 Spring Festival Gala. They offer a range of innovations, including bipedal humanoids capable of performing sophisticated tasks. This exposure highlights the rapid commercialization of China's robotics sector.

SK Hynix Inc.: SK Hynix Inc., a South Korean memory chipmaker, plans to invest $10 billion in a new U.S. AI solutions subsidiary, tentatively named AI Co. This new entity will be formed by restructuring its California-based solid-state drive subsidiary, Solidigm, while retaining Solidigm's operations under a separate subsidiary. The investment aims to identify new growth engines in the AI sector.

Solidigm: Solidigm is a solid-state drive (SSD) subsidiary of SK Hynix. SK Hynix plans to restructure Solidigm to form a new AI solution subsidiary in the U.S. called AI Co. Solidigm's business operations will continue under a new entity named Solidigm Inc.

Solidigm Inc.: Solidigm Inc. is a solid-state drive subsidiary being restructured by SK Hynix. It will continue its business operations under this new entity, following the creation of a new AI solution subsidiary in the U.S. by SK Hynix.

Galbot: Galbot is a Chinese robotics company. It has partnered with other robotics firms to showcase its technology at the 2026 Spring Festival Gala. Galbot also launched its first industrial-grade embodied intelligence heavy-duty robot, the Galbot S1, which features a dual-arm load capacity of 50 kilograms and is designed for complex industrial environments.

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd.: Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd., also known as CATL, is a battery giant. Their production lines have deployed Galbot's industrial-grade embodied intelligence heavy-duty robot, the Galbot S1. This showcases CATL's advanced manufacturing capabilities and adoption of cutting-edge robotics.

KSCY Holding Group: KSCY Holding Group has initiated and co-established an AI industry fund in Kunshan, Jiangsu province. This fund aims for a total of $720 million, with an initial phase of $288 million. It focuses on investments in AI hardware, computing infrastructure, large models, and AI manufacturing to bolster the local ecosystem.

Meridian Capital: Meridian Capital is an investment institution that co-established an AI industry fund in Kunshan, Jiangsu province. This fund has a target size of 5 billion yuan ($720 million) and an initial phase of 2 billion yuan. It focuses on investing in AI hardware, computing infrastructure, large models, and AI manufacturing to support the local ecosystem.

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