Nvidia CEO'su 2 Şubat'ta Trump'la Görüşecek

President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang at the White House this Friday, February 2, 2025, marking the first such meeting between the two. This comes at a critical moment for Nvidia, the world’s most valuable chipmaker, which is facing pressure following the emergence of a new Chinese AI startup, DeepSeek, and its recent developments in AI technology.

DeepSeek, a Chinese AI company, recently unveiled its R1 chatbot model, which has been seen as a competitor to those developed by major U.S. companies like OpenAI, but at a significantly lower cost. This raised concerns that China is catching up to the U.S. in AI technology, despite the U.S.'s lead, largely thanks to companies like Nvidia that provide the chips necessary for training AI models.

The situation escalated when reports emerged suggesting that DeepSeek may have circumvented U.S. export controls by purchasing Nvidia’s chips through intermediaries in Singapore, raising suspicions that the Chinese company was illegally obtaining key technology. As a result, Nvidia’s stock took a hit earlier this week, and the U.S. government has launched an investigation into these potential violations.

Huang and Nvidia have been lobbying against new export restrictions that could limit their ability to sell chips worldwide, especially to China. The company’s chips are vital for AI development, and Nvidia has warned that such restrictions could hurt its business and the U.S.'s standing in the global AI race. Trump’s administration, still in the early stages of forming its policy teams, has already indicated a tough stance on the sale of U.S. technology to China.

Trump's choice for Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick, has also signaled a willingness to act decisively. In his confirmation hearing this week, Lutnick expressed concerns over DeepSeek’s ability to sidestep U.S. export controls and promised a "very strong" response. The Bureau of Industry and Security, under Lutnick’s direction, would be responsible for enforcing these restrictions on the global sale of chips, particularly those with applications in AI.

Trump has attempted to downplay the significance of DeepSeek’s advancements, calling the Chinese company’s progress a “wake-up call” for the U.S., but also framing it as a “positive development” that would motivate the U.S. to strengthen its AI capabilities. In his second term, Trump has made it clear that he aims to position the U.S. as the global leader in artificial intelligence. He recently signed an executive order creating an interagency group to advise on AI policy and has proposed a $100 billion infrastructure investment in AI technologies, with the potential for $500 billion in future investments.

Nvidia, at the forefront of the AI boom, has become a focal point in this ongoing U.S.-China technological rivalry. The company’s chips have enabled significant progress in AI research, and Huang’s meeting with Trump will likely focus on finding ways to balance national security concerns with the need for technological growth. Nvidia has been vocal in pushing for fewer regulatory barriers that could stifle innovation, especially as the company navigates the geopolitical pressures surrounding AI technology.

The outcome of this meeting could have significant implications for both Nvidia and the broader tech industry. On one hand, Trump’s administration may loosen restrictions on Nvidia’s sales to China, allowing the company to continue thriving. On the other hand, the U.S. could adopt more stringent controls to protect its technological advantage over China. The discussions between Trump and Huang could shape the future of AI development, chip markets, and U.S.-China relations.

The wider AI community is watching closely. OpenAI’s Sam Altman, SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son, and Oracle’s Larry Ellison met with U.S. officials earlier this week to discuss the future of AI and the need for greater investment in AI infrastructure. Altman has particularly emphasized the importance of physical infrastructure to support AI development, which could also benefit Nvidia’s operations.

As the U.S. and China continue to compete for AI dominance, the upcoming meeting between Trump and Huang is a key moment in the ongoing technological and geopolitical race. The outcomes of these talks will be crucial in shaping the future of AI technology and the role that U.S. companies like Nvidia will play in that future.