“AI is going through an inflection point,” said Jensen Huang, NVIDIA CEO, to an enormous crowd at NVIDIA’s GPU Technology Conference (GTC) on Tuesday.
An incredible 25,000 in-person attendees flocked to San Jose, CA, for the five-day event, earning it cool nicknames like the “Superbowl of AI” and the “AI Woodstock.” There’s more hype than ever around artificial intelligence, and Deepseek’s release, which rattled confidence in NVIDIA, only further fueled anticipation for this event.
If you weren’t able to attend the week-long event, don’t worry — we’ve got you covered. Here’s our breakdown of the product announcements, robot reveals, exciting partnerships, and what it all means for the future.
NVIDIA is laser-focused on innovation
With Deepseek nipping at NVIDIA’s heels, AI enthusiasts and investors alike anxiously awaited Huang’s keynote address. During his two-hour keynote, Huang announced an array of future product updates, maintaining a speed reminiscent of Apple’s product cycle model with upgrades every year to meet increasing demand.
NVIDIA’s product announcements:
- Blackwell Ultra: Available in the second half of this year, the new graphics processing unit (GPU) features more memory than the current Blackwell GPU, enabling it to support larger AI models.
- Vera Rubin: This next-generation computing system includes Vera, a custom central processing unit (CPU), and a new GPU architecture (Rubin). Rubin will enable faster data transfers between chips, a key factor for expansive AI systems that require multiple chips and prioritize efficiency. Paired with the custom-designed processor, Vera, the Vera Rubin system is expected to surpass the Blackwell architecture. Its first iteration will be released in the second half of 2026, with Vera Rubin Ultra following in 2027.
- Feynman: coming out in 2027, it will replace Vera Rubin Ultra.
What does this mean? NVIDIA’s rapid iteration of chip designs comes as competitors like AMD, Intel, and specialized AI chip startups are gaining momentum. The company clearly feels the pressure from Deepseek and other challengers who are developing alternative AI accelerators. By maintaining an Apple-like annual upgrade cycle, NVIDIA is attempting to stay several steps ahead of the competition while keeping its existing customers locked in.
NVIDIA is evolving to be more than an AI chip provider
From tacos to cars, NVIDIA is making a strategic shift from being merely a chip provider to becoming an end-to-end AI solutions company. Let’s go over some of the most exciting collaborations, integrations, and partnerships announced.
General Motors and NVIDIA
Self-driving cars are coming.
NVIDIA announced a collaboration with General Motors, the largest U.S. automaker, to accelerate autonomous vehicle development in North America. NVIDIA DRIVE AGX will make self-driving cars possible with advanced driver-assistance systems and in-cabin safety. The two companies will also optimize GM’s factory planning and robotics using NVIDIA’s accelerated computing platforms, including NVIDIA Omniverse and NVIDIA Cosmos.
Yum! Brands and NVIDIA
Taco Bell will be slinging more Crunchwrap Supremes than ever in the near future.
Yum! Brands, Taco Bell’s parent company, is integrating NVIDIA AI solutions into its restaurant operations. Now customers will experience AI-powered voice-ordering drive-thrus and phone orders. This update is rolling out to 500 restaurants in the second quarter of this year. With no more human error or inefficiencies, Yum! believes this futuristic change will boost sales.
Yum! Brands also owns KFC, Pizza Hut, and Habit Burger & Grill brands.
Oracle and NVIDIA
Everyone’s been talking about Agentic AI lately; Oracle and NVIDIA have been listening. The two massive tech companies are combining forces to make agentic AI implementation easier.
Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) and NVIDIA AI Enterprise will integrate, making 160 AI tools and over 100 NIM microservers available natively through OCI. This will reduce the effort needed for enterprise organizations to deploy models.
“NVIDIA’s offerings, paired with OCI’s flexibility, scalability, performance and security, will speed AI adoption and help customers get more value from their data,” said Oracle CEO Safra Catz.
What does this mean? By integrating directly with cloud providers and industry-specific applications, NVIDIA is creating multiple revenue streams that extend far beyond hardware sales. This vertical integration approach makes it significantly harder for competitors to displace them, even if they develop technically superior chips.
Quantum computing had a good day
During GTC’s “Quantum Day” on Thursday, Huang admitted he was wrong to dismiss quantum computing back in January. He had said then that the technology would take 15 to 30 years to be useful, and his comments sent quantum stocks plummeting.
So what’s changed?
NVIDIA is now actively supporting quantum research. Huang announced the Accelerated Quantum Research Center (NVAQC) in Boston, which will house a supercomputer with 576 Blackwell GPUs and allow quantum companies to collaborate with Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers.
“Quantum computing will augment AI supercomputers to tackle some of the world’s most important problems, from drug discovery to materials development,” said Huang.
What does this mean? NVIDIA’s pivot on quantum computing is telling. Rather than dismissing it as a far-future technology, the company is now positioning itself as an enabler of quantum research through classical computing resources. This strategy allows NVIDIA to participate in quantum advancements without abandoning its core business model, ensuring relevance regardless of when quantum computing reaches practical applications.
Humanoid robots are here – and they’ll do your dishes
What’s your least favorite household chore? NVIDIA has some good news: robots can do it for you. The bad news: you won’t be able to use chore money as a motivator for your kids anymore.
NVIDIA shared that smart humanoid robots are closer than ever (less than five years away). The world’s first open humanoid robot foundation model was unveiled at GTC: Isaac GR00T N1. Yes, GR00T, like the cute twiggy character in Guardians of the Galaxy. It’s no coincidence since the robot was developed in partnership with Disney Research and Google Deepmind.
These new humanoid robots can perform household and industrial tasks, mirroring human intuition and reflexes. NVIDIA believes its products will be used to make robots in sectors such as warehousing, manufacturing, and healthcare.
What does this mean? This signals NVIDIA’s belief that robots represent the next major growth market. As data centers become saturated with NVIDIA hardware, the company needs new markets to sustain its growth trajectory. The combination of hardware acceleration, simulation environments, and AI models positions NVIDIA uniquely in the robotics space — potentially giving them the first-mover advantage in what could become a multi-trillion-dollar industry.
NVIDIA plans to stay ahead in the AI race
As the dust settles on one of tech’s biggest events, NVIDIA’s strategic direction is coming into focus. Huang, in his signature leather jacket, has once again demonstrated why NVIDIA remains the dominant force in AI infrastructure despite growing competition.
The announcements at GTC weren’t just about faster chips — they revealed a company transforming itself to capitalize on AI’s expansion into every industry.
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