# Alibaba’s T-Head and Baidu's Kunlunxin intensify competition to unseat Nvidia as top supplier of high-performance AI chips.

*semiconductor · news · 2026-01-24 · South China Morning Post*

## Key points

- Alibaba's T-Head is preparing for a public listing, aiming to boost its AI chip business.
- Baidu's Kunlunxin applied confidentially for a Hong Kong IPO earlier this month.
- Both firms seek to challenge Nvidia's 95% share of China's advanced AI chip market.
- Investor appetite for domestic AI chip makers surges amid US tech sanctions on China.

Alibaba’s T-Head and Baidu’s Kunlunxin intensify competition to unseat Nvidia as China’s top supplier of high-performance AI chips Reading Time:2 minutes Why you can trust SCMP Ann Caoin Shanghai Published: 11:00am, 24 Jan 2026 The plans of Alibaba Group Holding and Baidu to list their semiconductor design units could intensify competition with other domestic artificial intelligence chip developers to unseat Nvidia as the country’s top supplier of high-performance AI processors, according to analysts. The two Chinese internet peers’ initiatives reflected the strong investor appetite for AI chip firms and growing demand for alternative computing resources in the domestic AI sector, as Beijing pushed for greater technology self-reliance to overcome US tech sanctions. Before the US and Chinese governments stepped up their regulatory scrutiny of the firm last year, Nvidia said it had 95 per cent of the advanced chip market in China. Advertisement Hangzhou-based Alibaba was said to be preparing chip design unit T-Head to go public, according to a Bloomberg report on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter. Alibaba, owner of the South China Morning Post, did not reply to a request for comment. Alibaba’s Hong Kong-listed shares gained 2.3 per cent on Friday to close at HK$168.50, following that report. Advertisement Kunlunxin (Beijing) Technology, Baidu’s chip design arm, earlier this month confidentially applied for an initial public offering (IPO) in Hong Kong. Details such as the size and structure of the IPO had not yet been finalised, Baidu said. Advertisement Select Voice Choose your listening speed Get through articles 2x faster 1.25 x 250 WPM Slow Average Fast 00:0000:00 1.25 x

**Companies:** Alibaba Group Holding, Baidu, Kunlunxin (Beijing) Technology
**Countries:** China

[Read the full story on South China Morning Post](https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3341048/alibaba-baidus-ipo-plans-ai-chip-design-units-heighten-chinas-self-reliance-drive)

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