Nvidia's Huang renshun seeks to boost AI ecosystem with new investments in humanoid robotics and startups

NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang is intensifying efforts to secure its position in the AI market amid concerns over cooling demand and potential competition. The company is reportedly planning to invest an additional $1 billion in Figure, a humanoid robot manufacturer, bringing its total investment in the firm to over $11 billion. Figure, which previously raised $10 billion at a $380 billion valuation, is seeking further funding to scale its operations. NVIDIA also aims to invest in startups developing its Nemotron open-source model and other AI applications. The company has already spent $60 billion to acquire software licenses and hire employees from Poolside, a firm that recently released the open-weight Laguna AI model. Huang, who holds a $990 billion cash reserve, is pushing to foster thousands of AI models to reduce reliance on a few major clients. NVIDIA disclosed that three clients accounted for 44% of its sales in the first half of the year. An investor familiar with NVIDIA's strategy emphasized the importance of supporting diverse AI models to sustain long-term growth. This move aligns with broader industry trends, as figures like Jeff Bezos and NVIDIA are backing Figure with substantial financial support.