In yesterday's post, we explored fashion, focusing on digital handbags. Today, let's stay within the tech realm but shift our attention to a physical handbag inspired by technology. A few months ago, Theresa Barton, a research scientist at Artificial Intelligence (AI) platform Databricks, began selling her creations - transparent purses featuring outdated PC graphics cards encased in epoxy resin - on her site GPUPurse.com.
Barton, a research scientist specializing in pretraining large language models, holds a master's degree in Computer Science from Brown University. Her diverse career includes stints at Pixar, SpaceX, Tinder, Snapchat, and The New York Times.
Barton's first design incorporated an Nvidia GT 730 graphics card, a model released in 2018. Originally priced between $70 - $80 when the GeForce 700 series debuted in 2014, this model can now be found for as little as $20 on platforms like eBay. For her handbag, Barton ethically sourced the part from discarded data center hardware and integrated it with a functional cooling fan. The result? A design priced at $1,024.
Building on this concept, Barton later announced she was crafting a more exclusive version featuring Nvidia's H100 AI accelerator chip. This enterprise-grade GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), widely used across the tech industry to train advanced AI models, elevates the handbag's price to a staggering $65,536 (a price based on raising the power of 2, a number that plays an important role in the design and operation of neural networks and other machine learning models, primarily in the context of computational efficiency and hardware optimization - to the 16th power).
This year, we've seen technological detritus appear on high-fashion runways, notably in Daniel Roseberry’s S/S 24 Haute Couture collection for Schiaparelli. One dress in that collection featured unconventional materials such as flip phones, Casio calculators, CDs, and a computer fan.
Barton's designs lean toward a DIY aesthetic - acrylic purses (likely sourced from online marketplaces like Amazon or Temu) combined with electronic components, a cooling fan, and chain straps. Yet, her choice to embed a graphics card in the handbag draws a parallel to Haute Couture. The production of a graphics card, much like some couture techniques, is indeed a highly intricate process. It involves meticulous steps in photolithography, etching, and material deposition, pushing the boundaries of physics and engineering with each new generation of graphics card.
Some of these stages in manufacturing are particularly intriguing, involving cutting-edge techniques such as the use of ultraviolet (UV) and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography.
These methods project intricate patterns onto silicon wafers, which are then etched using plasma (ionized gases) that chemically or physically remove material. Alternatively, wet etching, which employs liquid chemicals to selectively dissolve specific materials, can also be used for processing semiconductor wafers.
That said, the real value of the bags may not lie in the GPUs, but in the company that manufactures these processors.
Nvidia, the leading AI chipmaker, has indeed become one of the world's most valuable companies, largely due to its role in enabling the AI revolution. The firm's highly advanced GPUs are integral to the infrastructure driving generative AI and other computationally demanding applications, making them indispensable as tech giants invest heavily in AI processing capabilities.
In its quarterly earnings report, released yesterday, Nvidia disclosed an extraordinary $35.1 billion (up 17% from Q2 and up 94% from a year ago) in quarterly revenue, marking a significant surge in profitability. In a press release, Jensen Huang, Nvidia's CEO, predicted a dramatic increase in computing power over the next decade. Huang further emphasized that AI is catalyzing a new industrial revolution capable of transforming industries globally and establishing a multi-trillion-dollar AI market.
Wedbush analyst Dan Ives aptly described Nvidia's GPUs as "the new oil and gold" in a note earlier this week, reflecting their pivotal role in modern technological advancements. Industry analysts largely agree with Ives, pointing to the immense demand for Nvidia's Blackwell GPU. Named after David Harold Blackwell, a distinguished mathematician and statistician, this next-generation GPU has been forecasted to drive Nvidia's sales and market capitalization to unprecedented levels.
Reports indicate extraordinary demand for Blackwell GPUs, with projections of record-breaking sales and inventories sold out for the next year. These factors highlight Nvidia's sustained dominance in the AI hardware market and its potential for continued financial and technological leadership.
A potential headwind for Nvidia lies in the prospect of global tariffs proposed by US president elect Donald Trump. Tariffs on imported goods could significantly impact companies like Nvidia, which depend on a global supply chain, including critical components manufactured abroad, particularly in Taiwan.
While Trump has frequently expressed opposition to China, some of his past statements have created uncertainty regarding U.S. support for Taiwan in the event of geopolitical conflict with China. This ambiguity has heightened concerns within the semiconductor industry, given Taiwan's pivotal role as home to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TMSC), the world's largest contract chipmaker and a key supplier of Nvidia's advanced chips. Any disruption in Taiwan could severely impact Nvidia's supply chain and manufacturing capabilities, posing risks to the availability of critical components.
Nvidia has already encountered hurdles in the Chinese market due to existing trade restrictions, which have curtailed its revenue streams from the region. Some analysts speculate that a potential Trump administration might relax restrictions on advanced chip sales to select nations, including China. However, proposed global tariffs could introduce additional complexities, potentially affecting Nvidia's operations and supply chain dynamics.
Huang recently affirmed Nvidia's readiness to comply with any trade regulations that may be implemented under a Trump presidency (it's worth noting that Huang was among the few prominent tech leaders who refrained from congratulating Trump following his election, a detail that may add nuance to Nvidia's positioning in evolving trade and geopolitical landscapes).
Despite these uncertainties, Nvidia's strategic importance remains unparalleled. As a leader in AI innovation and a cornerstone of advancing technologies, the company is increasingly becoming a critical asset to U.S. national security interests.
But let's go back to tech-inspired art and accessories: PC enthusiasts looking for more affordable designs (from wall art pieces to keyrings and jewelry) made from repurposed GPUs wall art to keyrings and jewelry crafted from old CPUs may head to Etsy. For those with a DIY spirit, recreating their own version of the GPU bag isn't out of reach: GeForce GT 730 GPUs can still be found on eBay at times for less than $50 (the luckiest ones may even have an old computer that they can dismantle...).
As for Nvidia's potential ties to the fashion world, the opportunities could be vast. From creative collaborations and sponsorships to generative AI-driven fashion, there's plenty of unexplored territory. Perhaps it's time for Nvidia to strengthen its connections with established fashion designers and bring its technological prowess into the fold of the fashion industry.
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