Nvidia Says No Upfront Payment Required for H200 AI Chips

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Nvidia said on Tuesday it does not require upfront payment for its H200 artificial intelligence chips, pushing back against reports that it had imposed unusually strict payment terms on Chinese customers.

In a statement to Reuters, Nvidia said it “would never require customers to pay for products they do not receive,” responding to a January 8 report that suggested the company was demanding full advance payment from Chinese buyers seeking access to its AI processors.

According to a source familiar with the matter, Nvidia’s standard commercial terms for Chinese clients have previously included advance payment requirements, though customers were sometimes permitted to place a deposit instead of paying the full amount upfront. The source added that, for the H200 chip, Nvidia has been more cautious in enforcing its conditions due to uncertainty over whether Chinese regulators would approve shipments.

Concerns over regulatory approval have been heightened by ongoing geopolitical tensions and export controls affecting advanced semiconductors. Any requirement for full prepayment would effectively shift financial risk from Nvidia to customers, forcing them to commit capital without assurance that Beijing would authorize the imports or that the chips could be deployed as planned.

The H200 is one of Nvidia’s most advanced AI accelerators, designed for large-scale data center workloads, and demand for the chip has surged globally as companies race to expand AI computing capacity.

Trump Says Microsoft to Make Changes to Limit Data Center Power Costs for Americans

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U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that Microsoft will introduce “major changes” this week aimed at preventing American consumers from facing higher electricity bills due to the growing power demands of data centers.

In a post on social media, Trump said his administration is working closely with major U.S. technology companies to address rising utility costs linked to the rapid expansion of data centers, which underpin cloud computing and artificial intelligence services. He stressed that protecting households from higher energy prices was a priority.

“I never want Americans to pay higher Electricity bills because of Data Centers,” Trump said, adding that his administration is securing commitments from leading tech firms “to the American People,” with further announcements expected in the coming weeks.

Data centers have become a growing concern for policymakers as electricity demand surges across the United States, driven by AI workloads and large-scale cloud infrastructure. Utilities in several regions have warned that new data center projects could strain local power grids and push up costs for residential users.

Trump did not provide details on the specific changes Microsoft plans to implement, nor did he name other technology companies involved in the discussions. Microsoft has not yet publicly commented on the statement.

Apple Tops Global Smartphone Market With 20% Share in 2025, Counterpoint Says

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Apple led the global smartphone market in 2025 with a 20% share, as worldwide shipments grew 2% year-on-year, driven by stronger demand and improving economic momentum in emerging markets, according to data released by Counterpoint Research on Monday.

Apple’s performance was supported by solid demand across emerging and mid-sized markets, alongside strong sales of its latest iPhone 17 series, said Counterpoint analyst Varun Mishra. The company claimed the largest market share among the world’s top five smartphone brands during the year.

Counterpoint noted that smartphone manufacturers front-loaded shipments earlier in 2025 to get ahead of potential tariff impacts. However, this effect faded as the year progressed, leaving shipment volumes in the second half of the year largely unchanged.

Samsung ranked second globally with a 19% market share, posting modest shipment growth. Xiaomi followed in third place with a 13% share, buoyed by steady demand in emerging markets, the research firm said.

Looking ahead, Counterpoint warned that the global smartphone market could face headwinds in 2026. Research director Tarun Pathak said shipments are expected to soften due to chip shortages and rising component costs, as semiconductor manufacturers increasingly prioritize supplying processors for AI data centres over smartphones.