Nvidia Cuts Jetson AI Computer Price in Half to Target Broader Market
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Nvidia is making its Jetson AI computers more accessible to a wider range of users, with a new $249 model designed to appeal to hobbyists, small companies, and students, reports the Wall Street Journal.
The Jetson computers, described as "portable brains," are designed to enable the development of robots, industrial automation, and other hardware that can run sophisticated AI computations directly, without relying on remote data centers.
Nvidia's current customer base primarily consists of large companies and AI startups that invest heavily in hardware for AI model training and operation. The new low-cost Jetson device aims to expand this reach by offering a more affordable option for smaller businesses and individuals interested in incorporating AI into their projects.
"This is the time, finally, when generative AI capability is coming to the edge," said Deepu Talla, Nvidia’s vice president of robotics and edge computing, to the WSJ.
The $249 Orin Nano Super model boasts significant improvements over its predecessor, offering nearly double the speed and efficiency and the capacity to process about 70% more computational tasks. While it utilizes less advanced chips compared to Nvidia's high-end products, it is still capable of supporting applications such as drones and cameras. Nvidia's higher-end Jetson Thor model is geared towards more complex applications like humanoid robots and advanced automation.
Analysts suggest that the expansion of the Jetson line could diversify Nvidia's portfolio, particularly by attracting developers focused on robotics. The company faces competition in the edge AI market from other technology companies like Intel, Google, and Qualcomm, which are also offering tailored solutions for specific applications like vision processing.
When asked about competitors, Talla emphasized the general-purpose nature of Nvidia's product, stating that it can run "all the latest greatest generative AI models," according to the WSJ.
Despite US restrictions on Nvidia's most advanced hardware sales to China, the company has confirmed that the new Jetson device will be available in the Chinese market through local distributors.