As reported by Financial Times, the US$3 trillion semiconductor company sees robotics as a promising growth area while facing increased competition in AI chips from AMD, Amazon, Microsoft, and Google.
Nvidia’s current robotics revenue represents a small portion of its business, with data center sales accounting for 88% of its US$35.1 billion third-quarter revenue.
“The ChatGPT moment for physical AI and robotics is around the corner,” said Deepu Talla, Nvidia’s vice-president of robotics.
He cited two key technological advances: generative AI models and improved robot training in simulated environments.
The company offers comprehensive robotics development tools, including training software, virtual environment simulations, and hardware components. Major clients like Amazon have implemented Nvidia’s robotics simulation technology in three US warehouses, while Toyota and Boston Dynamics use its training software.
In February, Nvidia joined Microsoft and OpenAI in investing in humanoid robotics company Figure AI at a US$2.6 billion valuation. The global robotics market, currently valued at US$78 billion according to BCC researchers, is projected to reach US$165 billion by 2029.
That’s not to say there aren’t challenges. David Rosen, head of the Robust Autonomy Lab at Northeastern University, noted that safety verification for machine learning systems in robotics remains an unsolved scientific problem.
Nvidia’s expansion into robotics signals potential opportunities in automation and AI integration, though the technology’s practical implementation and safety considerations will be crucial factors in adoption rates.
