Nvidia unveiled a new technology platform, Alpamayo, designed for self-driving vehicles at the CES technology conference in Las Vegas. The company, primarily known for its chips that power artificial intelligence software, is expanding its focus to physical products that incorporate AI.

According to Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Alpamayo will enable autonomous vehicles to "think through rare scenarios, drive safely in complex environments, and explain their driving decisions." Huang said the system brings "reasoning" to autonomous vehicles.

Nvidia is collaborating with Mercedes-Benz to develop a driverless car powered by Alpamayo, with a planned initial release in the United States in the coming months, followed by launches in Europe and Asia.

The company's move reflects a broader trend among leading technology firms to explore hardware applications for AI, moving beyond software like ChatGPT. Huang, in his presentation, suggested that physical AI is having its "ChatGPT moment."

Nvidia's chips have been instrumental in the AI revolution, primarily powering software applications. The company's expansion into self-driving car technology represents a significant step toward integrating AI into physical products. The Alpamayo platform is designed to address the challenges of autonomous driving, including complex environments and unpredictable situations.