Nvidia and General Motors (GM) have announced a strategic collaboration to leverage Nvidia’s Omniverse platform for enhancing automotive manufacturing and advanced vehicle development. Omniverse, described by Nvidia as a platform for developing and deploying physically based industrial digitalization applications, will serve as a key tool for GM in training artificial intelligence (AI) models across various business facets, including simulation and validation. GM has been testing Omniverse since at least 2022, aiming to optimize processes by connecting physical environments with digital ones.
The Omniverse platform has been instrumental for GM in creating a "digital twin" of its new design center and processes, assisting in virtual vehicle development. This initiative enables GM employees to work and collaborate within a unified digital environment, a capability highlighted during Nvidia's GTC developer conference in 2023. The collaboration is anticipated to further GM's efforts in factory planning and robotics optimization through the integration of Omniverse with Cosmos.
Nvidia's internal communications last year indicated an impending deal with GM regarding Omniverse. The platform's versatility is evident, as it has been utilized by notable companies such as BMW, Amazon Robotics, and Samsung. Now, GM joins this cadre of industry leaders to harness the potential of Omniverse in automotive manufacturing.
Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang expressed enthusiasm about the partnership:
"The era of physical AI is here, and together with GM, we're transforming transportation, from vehicles to the factories where they're made."
Additionally, GM is set to employ Nvidia Drive AGX technology for its next-generation vehicles and advanced driver-assistance systems. This integration will not only optimize manufacturing processes but also enhance virtual testing capabilities, ultimately contributing to the development of smarter vehicles. GM CEO Mary Barra emphasized the impact of AI on the automotive industry:
"AI not only optimizes manufacturing processes and accelerates virtual testing but also helps us build smarter vehicles while empowering our workforce to focus on craftsmanship."
Through this collaboration, both companies aim to merge technology with human ingenuity, unlocking new levels of innovation in vehicle manufacturing and beyond.
"By merging technology with human ingenuity, we unlock new levels of innovation in vehicle manufacturing and beyond," Mary Barra stated.