Daijiworld Media Network - Laz Vegas

Las Vegas, Jan 8: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang revealed on Tuesday that MediaTek will have the freedom to sell the new desktop CPU jointly developed by the two companies, adding that Nvidia has undisclosed plans for the chip's broader use.

During the CES 2025 event, Nvidia introduced Project DIGITS, a $3,000 desktop computer powered by Nvidia’s cutting-edge ‘Blackwell’ AI chip. The system also features the newly co-designed CPU developed in collaboration with MediaTek, emphasizing energy efficiency and AI-focused computing capabilities.

A win-win partnership
In an investor presentation following the CES announcement, Huang described the collaboration as mutually beneficial. “Now they [MediaTek] could provide that to us, and they could keep that for themselves and serve the market. And so, it was a great win-win,” Huang said.

Nvidia’s partnership with MediaTek comes amid the company’s ongoing push to challenge the dominance of Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm in the consumer and business CPU markets, as reported by Reuters.

Project DIGITS: aimed at ai developers
While Project DIGITS is not yet a mass-market device, Nvidia is targeting AI developers who rely on its Linux-based operating system. The machine aims to cater to professional users who require high-performance computing for AI development and research.

However, Huang hinted at plans to expand the CPU’s reach. “You know, obviously we have plans,” he said, refraining from revealing specifics.

Bridging Linux and Windows for a wider audience
A key part of Nvidia’s strategy is to bridge the gap between Linux, the go-to platform for AI developers, and Microsoft Windows, the dominant operating system for consumers. Nvidia plans to leverage Microsoft's Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) to enable a seamless experience for users who want access to both systems on a single machine.

“We’re going to make that a mainstream product,” Huang said, adding that Nvidia will provide full support to PC manufacturers to make the technology accessible to a wider audience.

Industry Implications
Nvidia’s push into the desktop CPU market, coupled with its emphasis on AI-driven computing and integration with existing operating systems, signals its ambition to reshape the consumer and enterprise computing landscape. By partnering with MediaTek and leveraging Windows-Linux interoperability, Nvidia is positioning itself as a formidable competitor in a market historically dominated by established players.

The industry will be watching closely as Nvidia unveils further details about its plans for the desktop CPU, a move that could redefine the boundaries of personal and professional computing.