Key Highlights
- Nvidia introduced a compact $3,000 AI computer called “Project Digits” (tentative name) at CES.
- The system is built on Nvidia’s GB10 chip, developed with MediaTek.
- The chipmaker hints at potential entry into the $50 billion PC market.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang received rock star-like enthusiasm at this year’s CES in Las Vegas, fueled by the company’s remarkable growth amidst an AI revolution that has made it the world’s second-most valuable company.
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During a keynote speech spanning nearly two hours, Huang drew parallels to Apple’s Steve Jobs by unveiling a surprise product—a small, cube-shaped AI computer.
“This is an AI supercomputer,” said Huang, sporting a striking alligator-skin leather jacket. “It runs Nvidia’s entire AI software stack.”
The device, dubbed Project Digits for now, features a chip called GB10, a collaboration between Nvidia and MediaTek. The system combines an ARM-based Grace CPU with Grace Blackwell GPUs, already renowned for powering advanced AI server clusters.
CES, traditionally a platform for futuristic consumer technology, saw this year’s event dominated by AI integrations. Highlights included a rollable-screen laptop from Lenovo and new robotic innovations.
While Nvidia’s GPUs have typically targeted gamers, Project Digits is designed for machine-learning researchers, startups, and universities, providing an affordable alternative to costly cloud-based AI development.
“There’s a gap for researchers and data scientists actively building models. They don’t need giant clusters but need something powerful for iterative development,” said Huang.
Priced at approximately $3,000, the device will be available starting in May through Nvidia and select manufacturing partners. Huang also hinted at renaming the product, inviting suggestions.
A New Direction for Nvidia
Unlike its flagship GPUs that have driven Nvidia’s meteoric rise—accounting for 88% of its recent $35 billion quarterly revenue—Project Digits signals a diversification strategy.
Analysts noted its disruptive pricing and potential to reshape the AI research landscape. Melius Research’s Ben Reitzes remarked that Nvidia likely “stole the show” at CES with this reveal.
David Bader, a data science expert at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, praised Project Digits for democratizing access to powerful AI capabilities. “A $3,000 device capable of training state-of-the-art models will be transformative for academics and small research teams,” Bader said.
Nvidia also hinted at future expansion into the $50 billion PC and laptop chip market, with potential compatibility for Windows systems. “Obviously, we have plans,” Huang teased, keeping further details under wraps.
