Last week in Las Vegas, one of the world’s most important consumer electronics events took place. At CES, more than 4,500 exhibitors annually showcase the most advanced technologies globally.
It has been held for over 50 years, starting in 1967. Innovations like VHS tapes (1970), CD players (1981), Tetris (1988), Netflix (2008), and RTX graphics cards (2019) were all introduced here.
This time, investors were captivated by innovations in AI and autonomous driving. The 2025 edition, with the motto “Dive Into the Future,” emphasized AI’s integration into daily life, with applications spanning autonomous vehicles, computers, and smart homes.
- Nvidia stunned at CES with innovations ranging from RTX 50 GPUs to digital worlds for training robots and cars.
- Mobileye, Qualcomm, and Nvidia unveiled new technologies for autonomous driving, increasingly tied to AI.
- Jensen Huang’s comment about the distant future of quantum computing shook the entire sector.
AI is leading tech development
AI was one of CES 2025’s main themes. Nvidia, as a market leader, unveiled a slew of new products.
A highlight was the new GeForce RTX 50 Series, featuring the most advanced graphics card ever – the RTX 5090. While it costs up to $2,000, Nvidia claims it offers double the performance of the previous series, and its optimized for AI applications.
Nvidia also introduced its first AI computer, Project Digits. This Mac Mini-sized computer, powered by the new Grace Blackwell GB10 chip, can run AI without requiring cloud infrastructure and is meant mostly for AI model developers.
Additionally, Nvidia revealed Cosmos – a new AI tool that creates realistic world simulations for training and testing robots and autonomous cars, potentially saving automakers massive costs.
Nvidia’s shares surged by 11% to a record $153 ahead of the conference but couldn’t hold onto the gains.
Quantum computing takes a hit
During the conference, Jensen Huang shook the quantum computing world with a single comment. He stated that “bringing highly useful quantum computers to market could take 15 to 30 years.”
Stocks in the sector, which had seen gains of hundreds of percent in recent months, took a nosedive. For instance, IONQ shares dropped 40%, Rigetti Computing fell 55%, and D-Wave Quantum plunged 60%.
Autonomous driving and the future of transportation
Another key topic at CES 2025 was advancements in autonomous driving technologies. Companies like Mobileye, Qualcomm, and Nvidia showcased progress in sensor technologies and AI that enable safer and more efficient autonomous driving.
Mobileye, a subsidiary of Intel, presented its SuperVision autonomous driving system, their most advanced offering to date, attracting interest from brands like Audi, Porsche, and Polestar.
Qualcomm unveiled integrated Snapdragon platforms for smart vehicles, aiming to define a new generation of intelligent cockpits. These integrate infotainment, autonomous driving, and driver assistance systems into a single solution, developed in collaboration with Google and Panasonic.
Nvidia introduced its DRIVE Hyperion AV platform, a comprehensive suite of sensors, chips, and software supporting autonomous driving.
Nvidia also announced a partnership with Toyota, which will utilize its solutions for autonomous driving in new vehicles, joining partners like Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar Land Rover, and Volvo.
AI is opening doors for major innovations in the automotive industry, from training autonomous systems to improving driver comfort. Nvidia expects revenue from this segment to grow by up to 20% this year. CEO Jensen Huang predicted that autonomous driving could become “the first multi-trillion-dollar robotics industry.”
Key investor takeaways
- AI is finding wide applications across various industries, signaling strong prospects for companies like Nvidia and Broadcom that supply foundational technology.
- These applications are creating opportunities beyond chips and cloud solutions, such as smart home devices and vehicles.
CES 2025 showcased numerous exciting technologies and concepts. However, for investors, the most intriguing development is AI’s integration into auto mobility, a key trend for the coming years. Automakers must keep pace with these advancements in an already highly competitive landscape.
