Chinese AI Stocks Surge as Jensen Huang Backs OpenClaw as “Next ChatGPT”

As CNBC writes, Chinese AI stocks rallied sharply after NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang praised emerging AI agent platforms, calling OpenClaw “the next ChatGPT” and signaling a major shift toward agent-driven AI.

OpenClaw hype fuels China’s AI momentum

Huang’s comments, made around GTC 2026, highlighted OpenClaw as a transformative open-source AI agent framework. NVIDIA reinforced that vision by introducing NemoClaw, a platform designed to accelerate the development and deployment of agentic AI systems.

OpenClaw has quickly gained traction across China, where companies are integrating it into products and building their own agent-based systems. The technology focuses on autonomous AI agents capable of completing complex, multi-step tasks, positioning it as a major evolution beyond traditional chatbots.

Chinese “AI tigers” lead the rally

Investor sentiment surged following Huang’s remarks, pushing several Chinese AI companies higher:

MiniMax jumped 22% in Hong Kong trading, reflecting strong interest in its agent-based AI expansion.

Zhipu, also known as Knowledge Atlas Technology, rose 14% as it scales its own OpenClaw-inspired tools.

Both companies are increasingly seen as part of China’s emerging “AI tigers,” a group of fast-growing firms aiming to compete with global leaders like OpenAI and Anthropic.

SenseTime also gained 2.43% after integrating OpenClaw into its AI assistant ecosystem, while UCloud Technology climbed 13% in Shanghai.

AI demand outlook lifts broader tech sector

The rally extended beyond China, with Asian semiconductor and hardware companies also benefiting from NVIDIA’s optimistic outlook.

SK Hynix surged nearly 9%, while Samsung Electronics rose 7.53%, driven by expectations of continued demand for AI memory and infrastructure.

Huang projected that AI-related spending could reach $1 trillion by 2027, underscoring the scale of the opportunity. NVIDIA is positioning itself to capitalize on this growth with new hardware like the Vera CPU, designed specifically for AI workloads.

China strengthens position in global AI race

According to Moody’s, China is solidifying its role as a leading AI market, supported by the rapid adoption of new technologies like OpenClaw.

However, adoption remains uneven across industries. Large tech firms continue to lead advanced AI integration, while traditional sectors move more cautiously, depending on their digital maturity.

Still, the combination of open-source innovation and strong domestic competition is accelerating China’s AI ecosystem at a rapid pace.

AI agents emerge as the next battleground

Huang’s endorsement of OpenClaw signals a broader shift toward AI agents as the next frontier in artificial intelligence.

As companies race to build autonomous systems capable of executing real-world tasks, competition between global AI leaders and China’s rising “AI tigers” is expected to intensify.

With momentum building across both software and hardware ecosystems, AI agents may soon redefine how businesses and consumers interact with technology.