Nvidia Unveils New Gaming Chips to Maintain Its Leadership in Artificial Intelligence

Huang’s Keynote Address Highlights Nvidia’s Ambitious Plans

At the packed CES trade show in Las Vegas on Monday, Nvidia Corp. Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang took to the stage to unveil a slew of new chips, software, and services aimed at cementing the company’s position as a leader in artificial intelligence (AI) computing.

The Future of AI Computing: A Billion Humanoid Robots, 10 Million Automated Factories, and 1.5 Billion Self-Driving Cars

Huang outlined Nvidia’s vision for an AI-powered future, where its products will play a central role in driving innovation across various industries. The company aims to have a billion humanoid robots, 10 million automated factories, and 1.5 billion self-driving cars and trucks on the roads by 2030.

Nvidia Shares Surge on Optimism

The announcement sent Nvidia’s shares soaring, with the stock gaining as much as 2.5% in New York trading on Monday. The company’s Asian suppliers, including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. and Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., also saw their shares surge on optimism about Nvidia’s prospects.

New GeForce GPUs: A Breakthrough for Gamers

Huang began his presentation by highlighting new advances in the GeForce line of graphics processing units (GPUs). The new GeForce 50 series cards will take advantage of Blackwell design, which was created using the same technology used in Nvidia’s AI accelerators. This innovation will enable more realistic gaming experiences, as the new GPUs will rely on AI to anticipate what the next frame should look like.

"GeForce allowed AI to reach the masses, and now AI is coming home to GeForce," Huang said during his presentation. The flagship RTX 5090 model will be available later this month for $1,999, while less powerful cards, including the RTX 5070, which costs $549, will follow in February.

Data Center Operation: Nvidia’s New Revenue Stream

Gaming was once Nvidia’s biggest source of sales, but the company’s data center operation has surpassed it in recent years. This year, the data center operation is on track to contribute more than $100 billion to Nvidia’s revenue. The company’s accelerator chips are highly sought after by major tech companies, and Nvidia plans to expand its presence in this market.

Toyota Joins Nvidia’s Autonomous Driving AI Products

Nvidia announced that Toyota, the world’s largest vehicle maker, will be using its autonomous driving AI products, including Drive chips and software. This partnership is a significant milestone for Nvidia, as it marks one of the most prominent adoption of its technology by a major automaker.

Challenges Ahead: Ensuring Safety and Efficiency

As AI extends into more physical areas, challenges arise in ensuring safety and efficiency. Robots and cars will require software that can handle real-life complexities in a safe way. To address this issue, Nvidia has developed the Cosmos platform, which enables robots to become smarter and allows for fully autonomous vehicles.

Cosmos: A Breakthrough in AI-Generated Video

Nvidia’s Cosmos technology is able to generate video from inputs such as text. This video becomes the basis of virtual training, reducing dependence on expensive and time-consuming real-world experimentation. The generated video can also be searched and honed so that important but infrequent events – like a car encountering an emergency vehicle – can be tested repeatedly.

Nvidia’s Partnerships: A Key Driver of Growth

Nvidia is not alone in its efforts to develop AI-powered technology. The company has partnered with Uber Technologies Inc. to develop self-driving technology, which will provide a trove of data for training AI models. Nvidia also believes that mass-market carmakers will shift toward using one computer and operating system for their entire model lineup.

Certification by Government Agencies: A Step Forward

To support this vision, Nvidia has secured certification from government agencies in various countries, including the United States, China, and Europe. This certification paves the way for widespread adoption of its technology.

New Machines for Developers: The Grace Blackwell Superchip

Nvidia is developing new machines specifically designed for AI developers, which will run a version of the Linux operating system. These devices are not meant for everyday use but rather to provide developers with hardware capable of running very large AI models that current laptops struggle to handle.

Partnership with MediaTek: A Collaboration in Development

The development of these machines is a result of a partnership between Nvidia and Taiwan’s MediaTek, which will equip the small $3,000 device with a single Grace Blackwell Superchip – a combination of central processor and graphics semiconductor. This collaboration demonstrates Nvidia’s commitment to working with other companies to advance AI technology.

Conclusion

Huang’s keynote address at CES marked a significant milestone in Nvidia’s journey toward an AI-powered future. The company’s ambitious plans, backed by robust partnerships and innovative technologies, position it for continued growth and leadership in the industry.