NVIDIA has announced a delay in the launch of its new next-generation artificial intelligence chip, the Blackwell B200, due to a design flaw discovered in the advanced production phase. This delay will postpone mass deliveries until 2025, three months later than initially anticipated.
The B200 chip is set to replace the popular and hard-to-come-by H100. Reports indicate that the B200 promises performance 30 times superior and a 25 times reduction in energy consumption. However, these chips are undergoing additional testing at a TSMC facility to ensure the design issue is resolved before mass distribution.
This delay represents a significant disappointment for tech giants like Microsoft, Google, and Meta, who had already placed considerable orders for these chips. The news also marks a setback for NVIDIA, which had recently announced a strategy to launch a new chip every year, aiming to stay ahead in an increasingly competitive market.
The postponement of the B200 launch not only impacts the planning of companies expecting to integrate these chips into their AI infrastructures but also challenges NVIDIA’s strategy of offering fast and constant technological upgrades. The company will now need to focus on ensuring that the B200 meets the high standards of quality and performance they have promised.
Meanwhile, the tech industry is closely watching how NVIDIA handles this situation and whether they will be able to mitigate the negative effects of this delay on their strategic plan and leadership position in the AI chip market.