WSJ Tech News Briefing – TNB Tech Minute: Nvidia Unveils Faster AI Chips at CES

Date: January 6, 2026
Host: Julie Chang, Wall Street Journal

Episode Overview

This episode delivers a quick but informative roundup of major technology news announced at CES 2026, with a particular focus on Nvidia's AI chip innovations, and significant updates from Dell, Lucid, Nuro, and Uber in the computing and autonomous vehicle industries.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Nvidia Unveils Vera Rubin AI Server Systems

• [00:19] Nvidia introduced its latest server systems, the Vera Rubin, set for release in the second half of the year.

  • Designed specifically for advanced AI training involving simulations to help AIs navigate real-world environments.
  • Noted as a deviation from Nvidia's typical product launch cycle, a response to surging demand and complexity in the AI sector.

• [00:42] Quote – Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang at CES:

  • “The race is on for AI. Everybody’s trying to get to the next level. Everybody’s trying to get to the next frontier.”
    — Jensen Huang ([00:42])

• Implication: The accelerated development and release of these AI chips underscore how the competitive landscape in AI hardware is intensifying, with Nvidia aiming to maintain its leadership as the demand for high-performance training infrastructure surges.

2. Dell Broadens PC Portfolio After Underperformance

• [01:00] Dell Technologies, responding to recent underperformance, announced an expansion of its PC lineup to cover more price points.
  • Acknowledged that an overemphasis on high-end, premium commercial PCs led the company to miss out on broader market segments.
  • Plans to introduce lower-tier products and revive the popular XPS line, signaling a renewed focus on accessibility and consumer needs.

3. Uber, Lucid, and Nuro Begin Robotaxi Test Runs

• [01:29] Three companies—Uber, Lucid, and Nuro—have initiated real-world test drives for their collaborative Robotaxi service.
  • Testing began last month, spearheaded by Nuro, using engineering prototypes and oversight by autonomous vehicle operators.
  • Post-validation, Robotaxi production is slated to start at Lucid’s Arizona factory within the year, with the service launching in the San Francisco Bay Area, integrated into Uber's ride-hailing app.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jensen Huang on Industry Pressure

  • “The race is on for AI. Everybody’s trying to get to the next level. Everybody’s trying to get to the next frontier.”
    ([00:42])

• Commentary on Data Center Innovation (from Christophe Beck/Ecolab, post-Tech Minute):

  • “Mach 7 or the Mach 4… so focused on high tech are the most forward looking. They have the means, they have the mindset, they have the passion for innovation… innovation that's coming up right now is working much better than we thought, and it’s really thinking in circular ways, being in a data center or in a microchip manufacturing plant.”
    ([end segment, post-Tech Minute])
  • Note: This segment is labeled as sponsored content by Ecolab and distinct from the main WSJ news content.

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:00] – Episode start, main theme set: AI’s impact on industry energy and water use.
• [00:19] – Nvidia announces Vera Rubin AI server systems and hints at acceleration in AI chip development.
• [00:42] – Jensen Huang’s quote on the competitive AI landscape.
• [01:00] – Dell unveils plans to diversify PC offerings to regain market share.
• [01:29] – Uber, Lucid, and Nuro’s on-road Robotaxi trial, future production, and deployment details.
• [end segment] – (Sponsored) Christophe Beck on innovation and sustainability in data centers.

Summary

This Tech Minute delivers fast coverage of several headline developments:

• Nvidia breaks its own release patterns to keep up with the white-hot AI race, introducing the Vera Rubin for next-gen model training.
• Dell shifts strategy after recognizing it missed huge portions of the PC market, promising more affordable options.
• Uber, Lucid, and Nuro confirm they’re not just planning but already field-testing a Robotaxi platform, marking tangible progress toward autonomous ridesharing.

The episode’s pace matches the rapid evolution it describes, emphasizing how quickly industry leaders are moving to meet shifting demands and seize new opportunities.