NVIDIA Unveils Next-Generation Rubin AI Architecture
NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang said the company was developing the next generation of AI architecture called Rubin. Huang made the statement while in Taiwan, revealing that six different chips based on the Rubin architecture have already been "taped out" and with TSMC for trial production.
What We Know About Rubin Architecture
Rubin architecture is set to be a huge leap, requiring a large upgrade in NVIDIA's whole technology stack. Huang went on to state that these six tape-outs included a new CPU, a GPU, an NVLink Switch, and a silicon photonics processor.
Rubin will contain several key technological advancements, as suggested:
- Memory: R100 GPUs will unleash next-gen HBM4 memory.
- Fabrication Technology: Chips will be fabricated on TSMC's 3nm (N3P) process node, using CoWoS-L packaging.
- Architecture Design: Among others, it will be NVIDIA's first-ever chiplet design for Rubin with a reticle design that is 4x as opposed to Blackwell's 3.3x.
All these changes are creating a huge potentiality for the generational performance increase expected with Rubin to be huge. The architecture is speculated to hit the market around 2026-27, depending on the completion of trial production.
Jensen Huang Talks H20 GPU Situation in China
Huang's comments about H20 GPUs revolved around their circumstance in China, and rumors of the Chinese authorities limiting the H20 chips alarmed him, especially because beforehand, the government had urged NVIDIA to get export clearance for them.
Huang confirmed that China had questions concerning the security of backdoors in the chips but firmly stated, "we have made it very clear and put to rest that H20 has no security backdoors. There are no such things. There never have been." The situation will hopefully resolve itself.
On the subject of this alleged 15% sales commission paid on H20 revenue to the US government, Huang could only focus on being thankful for the license approval, particularly considering the promising prospects for AI in China, and maintaining that H20 shipments, "are not a national security concern. It's good for the US and it's good for the China market."
