Nvidia is doubling down on the artificial intelligence ecosystem by backing another major startup. The chip giant has announced a new investment in Thinking Machines Lab, the AI company founded by former OpenAI technology chief Mira Murati, while also committing to supply powerful chips that will run the startup’s AI systems.
The deal highlights how Nvidia is not just selling hardware for AI but actively shaping the next generation of AI companies that will depend on its technology.
Key Highlights
• Nvidia is making a new “significant” investment in Thinking Machines Lab, although the exact terms of the deal were not disclosed. The funding could include cash, computing infrastructure, or both.
• Thinking Machines will use Nvidia’s upcoming Vera Rubin AI accelerators, one of the company’s next-generation chips designed specifically for training and running advanced AI models.
• The agreement is a multi-year partnership, with the first deployment of these chips expected early next year.
• The computing power involved is massive. The infrastructure will deliver at least 1 gigawatt of compute capacity, roughly comparable to the electricity needed to power about 750,000 homes.
• This is not Nvidia’s first investment in the company. The chipmaker had already backed Thinking Machines previously and is now strengthening the relationship as the startup scales its AI ambitions.
A Startup Built by Top AI Talent
Thinking Machines Lab was founded by Mira Murati, who previously served as Chief Technology Officer at OpenAI and was deeply involved in the development of ChatGPT and other major AI systems.
Since launching the company, Murati has assembled a strong team that includes many former OpenAI researchers and engineers.
• The company’s first product, Tinker, was introduced in October.
• The platform helps organizations fine-tune large language models, the same type of technology that powers chatbots and advanced AI assistants.
• The goal is to make AI models more customizable and adaptable for real-world use.
Murati said the Nvidia partnership will significantly accelerate the company’s ability to build AI systems that individuals and businesses can shape to their needs.
A Rapidly Rising Valuation
The startup has already attracted strong investor interest.
• In July, Thinking Machines raised $2 billion at a $12 billion valuation.
• By November, the company was reportedly discussing another funding round at a $50 billion valuation, according to earlier reports.
If completed, that would represent one of the fastest valuation jumps in the AI startup world.
Nvidia’s Strategy: Invest in the Ecosystem
Nvidia has increasingly been investing directly in AI companies that also become major customers for its chips.
The strategy helps accelerate adoption of its hardware while strengthening relationships with startups building cutting-edge AI applications.
However, this approach has also attracted some scrutiny because Nvidia is effectively investing in companies that then buy large amounts of its chips, creating a circular ecosystem around its technology.
Still, the company shows no signs of slowing down.
CEO Jensen Huang’s view is clear: Nvidia wants to be at the center of what it calls the next industrial revolution driven by artificial intelligence.
And partnerships like this one suggest the company intends to power not just the infrastructure of AI, but the startups shaping its future.