Link: Nvidia says the Jetson AGX Thor, its latest "robot brain" chip module, is now on sale for $3,499 as a developer kit; the module will ship next month (Kif Leswing/CNBC)

Nvidia has launched the Jetson AGX Thor, a new robotics chip module priced at $3,499 for developers, signaling a robust expansion into robotics technology. This advanced module will start shipping next month, facilitating the creation of sophisticated robots.

Post prototyping with the developer kit, Nvidia will offer the Thor T5000 modules for production-level robots, with a reduced price of $2,999 per module for bulk orders exceeding 1,000 units. CEO Jensen Huang sees robotics as a pivotal growth area, separate from their core AI operations.

Deepu Talla, Nvidia’s VP of robotics and edge AI, emphasized that Nvidia powers industries by supplying the underlying technology rather than producing final products like robots or cars themselves. The Thor chips, equipped with advanced Blackwell graphics processors, are utilized in various applications from AI to gaming.

The new chips perform 7.5 times better than their predecessors, supporting intensive AI models crucial for developing humanoid robots. They come with a substantial 128GB of memory to handle complex AI algorithms.

Nvidia's influence in robotics is growing, despite the field currently contributing just 1% to total company revenue. Major tech players like Amazon and Meta are already integrating Nvidia’s Jetson chips into their operations.

The company recently merged its automotive and robotics divisions, reporting a 72% increase in their combined quarterly sales, while also highlighting the application of Jetson Thor chips in self-driving cars, particularly in Chinese markets. #

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