CES: Nvidia unveils next-generation family of gaming chips

The boss of US computer chip giant Nvidia has unveiled the firm’s next-generation of gaming chips, known as the RTX 50-series.

The announcement was part of Jensen Huang’s keynote address at CES, an annual technology show in Las Vegas.

The new family of chips will use Nvidia’s Blackwell artificial intelligence (AI) technology to create movie-quality images, he told a packed arena.

The chips will range in price from $549 (£438) to $1,999, and are twice as fast as their predecessors, he added.

Mr Huang carried out a real-time demonstration that showed off highly detailed graphics featuring an array of textures and manoeuvres.

“It was awesome that they can do this in real time,” said Gary Yang, a graduate student in robotics at the California Institute of Technology.

“Previously we’d think of these graphics as pre-rendered.”

The new chips will start making their way to consumers starting in late January.

“I thought it was incredible,” said Scott Epstein of technology start-up Agenovate AI. “They are continuing to innovate.”

Mr Yang and Mr Epstein were among thousands of people who watched the speech both in person and virtually on the eve of the official opening of CES.

The convention is expected to draw more than 150,000 attendees and over 4,500 exhibitors over the next week.

Nvidia’s shares touched a new record high on Monday in the run-up to Mr Huang’s highly anticipated address.

He spent the first part of his speech talking about the company’s history.

Founded in 1993, Nvidia was originally known for making the type of computer chips that process graphics, particularly for computer games.

Thirty-one years later, Nvidia now stands at the forefront of the development of chips that power AI, with a market value of more than $3tn.

However, Nvidia still faces some significant challenges, including from regulators around the world who have raised concerns about its growing dominance of the AI chip market.

Last year, the company said it had been contacted by watchdogs in the US, UK, European Union, South Korea, and China.