Key Highlights
- According to The Information, DeepSeek’s forthcoming V4 model is engineered to operate on Huawei Technologies processors
- Major Chinese technology companies including Alibaba, ByteDance, and Tencent have secured bulk chip orders from Huawei — collectively reaching hundreds of thousands of units
- The AI startup collaborated closely with Huawei and Cambricon Technologies to adapt portions of V4’s foundational code
- The V4 model is anticipated to debut in the coming weeks, accompanied by two additional specialized versions
- Unlike typical industry protocols before major releases, DeepSeek has excluded U.S. semiconductor manufacturers from early V4 access
DeepSeek’s forthcoming V4 artificial intelligence model has been engineered to function on processors manufactured by Huawei Technologies, The Information disclosed in a Friday report.
DeepSeek’s anticipated V4 will run on Huawei chips
~ per The Information
Big win for Huawei. Alibaba, ByteDance, Tencent, and other major Chinese tech firms are gathering hundreds of thousands of Huawei chips ahead of DeepSeek’s V4 launch.
Huawei’s Ascend 950PR (the newest… https://t.co/SgxvVKN6kZ pic.twitter.com/oUumgZiqUm
— Rohan Paul (@rohanpaul_ai) April 3, 2026
Five individuals with firsthand knowledge of the development confirmed the information to the publication.
Ahead of the V4 release, China’s leading technology corporations — Alibaba, ByteDance, and Tencent — have secured substantial chip orders from Huawei. These procurement agreements encompass hundreds of thousands of semiconductor units.
The model’s public debut is projected within the upcoming weeks.
DeepSeek, the artificial intelligence firm headquartered in Hangzhou, has invested several months collaborating with Huawei alongside Chinese semiconductor designer Cambricon Technologies. The partnership focused on adapting and validating segments of V4’s foundational code for compatibility with domestically manufactured hardware.
Two sources familiar with the company’s operations confirmed this technical collaboration.
U.S. Semiconductor Companies Excluded from V4 Preview
DeepSeek provided preliminary access to Chinese chip manufacturers, including Huawei, prior to V4’s anticipated launch. However, American semiconductor companies were notably excluded from this early access program, representing a departure from conventional industry protocols preceding significant model releases.
Reuters had previously documented this development earlier this year.
The company is simultaneously developing two supplementary V4 variations. Each iteration is tailored for distinct computational capabilities and optimized for Chinese-manufactured silicon.
Both DeepSeek and Huawei declined to provide statements to Reuters regarding these developments, with requests submitted beyond standard business hours.
Market Impact of DeepSeek’s Prior Releases
DeepSeek’s previous model iterations, V3 and R1, triggered significant volatility in international technology equities upon their respective launches. Investment analysts began reassessing whether American AI enterprises required multi-billion-dollar expenditures on computational infrastructure.
This market response has placed DeepSeek’s upcoming V4 model under heightened global observation.
The V4 system remains unreleased to the public. DeepSeek has not provided official confirmation regarding the specific launch timeline.
Cambricon Technologies experienced a 2.67% share price increase following the announcement. Alibaba’s stock declined 1.36% during U.S. trading sessions and decreased 1.49% on the Hong Kong exchange.
