Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) company DeepSeek has partnered with Huawei Technologies to develop programming tools for Huawei’s Ascend chips, as Chinese technology companies increasingly look for ways to reduce their dependence on NVIDIA’s AI hardware and software ecosystem.
The partnership focuses on building an independent software infrastructure around Huawei’s Ascend platform. DeepSeek said it will open-source key components of the infrastructure, potentially giving developers more tools to build and run AI applications on Huawei hardware.
Credits: NST
DeepSeek Open-Sources Infrastructure for Huawei Ascend
As part of the collaboration, DeepSeek is open-sourcing infrastructure designed for Huawei’s Ascend platform. The initiative includes TileLang, a high-level programming language, along with related compute and communication libraries.
DeepSeek said the goal is to create a new generation of an independent and controllable GPU software ecosystem. The company believes that developing an accessible programming language is an important first step towards making AI computing infrastructure less dependent on foreign platforms.
The move is significant because software compatibility can be just as important as chip performance in building a competitive AI ecosystem. Developers typically rely on established programming frameworks and libraries when creating AI models, making it difficult for alternative chipmakers to attract users without comparable software support.
By making parts of its Ascend infrastructure open source, DeepSeek could help expand the developer base working with Huawei’s AI chips.
TileLang Takes Aim at NVIDIA’s CUDA
At the centre of the initiative is TileLang, DeepSeek’s high-level programming language designed to simplify AI development.
The language is positioned as an alternative approach to NVIDIA’s CUDA programming ecosystem, which has become a widely used foundation for developing software that runs on NVIDIA GPUs.
DeepSeek says TileLang can improve development efficiency and make code logic easier to manage. The company developed the language to address the need for a simpler programming environment as Chinese companies work to build their own AI computing stack.
DeepSeek said TileLang was created to meet the demand for a high-level language that is universal and easier to program.
The focus on programming tools highlights a broader challenge facing China’s AI industry. Developing advanced chips is only one part of building a competitive AI ecosystem. Developers also need compilers, libraries, frameworks and other software tools that allow those chips to be used efficiently.
China Pushes Towards a Domestic AI Stack
The DeepSeek-Huawei partnership comes as Chinese technology companies face increasing restrictions around access to advanced US-made AI chips and technologies.
NVIDIA’s GPUs have become a central part of the global AI infrastructure, while CUDA has helped establish the company’s software ecosystem among developers. For Chinese companies, developing alternatives to that combination has become increasingly important.
Huawei has been developing its Ascend chip family as part of its broader push into AI computing. DeepSeek’s contribution could help strengthen the software layer surrounding those processors by giving developers tools specifically designed for Huawei’s architecture.
For DeepSeek, the partnership also expands the use of its programming technology beyond its own AI models. Open-sourcing the infrastructure could allow researchers and developers to experiment with the tools and potentially contribute to their development.
Credits: NDTV Profit
DeepSeek-Huawei Partnership Could Strengthen AI Independence
The collaboration reflects a broader effort by China’s technology industry to build an AI ecosystem that relies less on NVIDIA hardware and software.
However, creating a viable alternative to an established ecosystem is a long-term challenge. Developers need mature tools, extensive libraries and reliable hardware before they can move away from existing platforms at scale.
DeepSeek’s decision to open-source TileLang and supporting infrastructure could help address part of that challenge. By combining Huawei’s Ascend chips with DeepSeek’s programming expertise, the companies are attempting to build more of the technology stack within China.
The partnership therefore goes beyond a single programming language. It represents another step in China’s effort to develop domestic alternatives across the AI hardware and software supply chain.
