At the Nvidia GPU Technology Conference (GTC) 2025, held in San Jose, California, on March 18, Jensen Huang, the company's founder and CEO, emphasised the pivotal changes occurring within the artificial intelligence (AI) landscape. Huang addressed a sizable audience, proclaiming that AI is currently experiencing an “inflection point,” a statement underscoring the significant advancements made within the field.
During his keynote, which extended beyond two hours, Huang detailed Nvidia's innovative strides in AI technology, highlighting future developments within the company. Among the most significant announcements were the next-generation graphics architectures: Blackwell Ultra and Vera Rubin, the latter named in tribute to the esteemed astronomer. The Blackwell Ultra architecture is scheduled for release in the latter half of 2025, followed by the Rubin AI chip, which is anticipated to debut in late 2026. Looking further ahead, the Rubin Ultra is expected to see a launch in 2027.
Huang illustrated the rapid evolution of AI over the past decade, describing its journey from basic perception and computer vision to a more advanced state known as agentic AI, characterised by its capability to reason. He stated, “AI understands the context, understands what we’re asking, understands the meaning of our request. It now generates answers. Fundamentally changed how computing is done.” Such advancements have laid the groundwork for Nvidia's involvement in varied sectors, particularly in autonomous driving.
The demand for Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) in cloud computing has surged, according to Huang. He anticipates that Nvidia's revenue from data centre infrastructure could reach as much as $1 trillion by 2028. In a strategic move, he also announced that General Motors would implement Nvidia technology in its forthcoming fleet of self-driving vehicles. This partnership is seen as a continuation of Nvidia's influential role in the automotive industry.
Additionally, Huang introduced the Halos system, an innovative AI solution designed to enhance safety within automotive applications, with a particular focus on autonomous driving. Highlighting their leadership in this area, Huang remarked, “We’re the first company in the world, I believe, to have every line of code safety assessed.” This pledge to safety reinforces Nvidia's commitment to ensuring the reliability of its autonomous systems.
Huang also referenced the far-reaching impact of AlexNet, a neural network introduced in 2012 that pioneered deep learning. The success of AlexNet in the ImageNet competition significantly propelled Nvidia’s entrance into the autonomous vehicles sector. His reflective comments about the moment he first recognised the network's potential were a reminder of how foundational this technology has been in advancing both AI and automotive technology.
In developing a comprehensive ecosystem, Nvidia has established partnerships with numerous automotive giants, including Tesla, Waymo, and Mercedes, as well as making inroads with companies like Volvo and Zoox, all of which utilise Nvidia’s Drive Orin system-on-chip and DriveOS to enhance the safety and precision of their autonomous vehicles.
Nvidia's ongoing innovation exemplifies its pioneering role within the automotive industry, having solidified its status as an essential technology provider. The keynote highlights illustrated how a decade of relentless innovation and strategic partnerships has positioned Nvidia as a leader in shaping the future of autonomous vehicles and broader technological advancements.
Source: Noah Wire Services