Nvidia is broadening its bet on "physical AI"—artificial intelligence that controls robots and machines in the real world—through a wave of new hardware and partnerships centered on Asia.
The chipmaker unveiled new Jetson Thor modules aimed at mainstream robotics and edge AI markets, according to finance.biggo.com. Edge AI refers to running AI computations directly on a device rather than in a distant data center, which matters for robots that need to react instantly.
In Japan, Nvidia is teaming up with industrial robotics makers Fanuc and Yaskawa Electric to accelerate AI-powered robotics, according to CNBC TV18. At the event, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang discussed Japan's role in the chip supply chain, and the report noted that Noetra is buying Nvidia's Rubin chips.
Separately, Hitachi and Nvidia announced a collaboration to advance Hitachi's HMAX and enable what they describe as end-to-end autonomous operations through the integrated control of physical AI, according to TradingView.
Taken together, the moves show Nvidia extending its dominance from AI software and data centers into factory floors and autonomous machines, with Japan's established industrial and robotics companies as key allies. Partnering with names like Fanuc, Yaskawa, and Hitachi gives Nvidia access to decades of manufacturing expertise, while those firms gain Nvidia's AI computing platform.
Why it matters: as AI moves from screens into physical machines, whoever supplies the underlying chips and software stands to shape the next era of automation—and Nvidia is positioning itself at that center.