Nvidia has signaled that its next-generation Vera Rubin computing platform for AI and high-performance computing (HPC) could launch as early as the third quarter of 2026, earlier than the previously announced second half of the year. The announcement comes from CEO Jensen Huang, who confirmed the accelerated timeline during a recent interview with Bloomberg. Huang emphasized that the Vera Rubin platform, which will feature seven distinct chips, is already in advanced development stages. “Vera Rubin, seven different chips, are back in our labs, and the bring-up is happening across engineering teams,” he said. “Probably 20,000 people are bringing up Vera Rubin—from silicon to systems, to software, to algorithms—people are working around the clock. And this bring-up is going beautifully.” The platform is a key component of Nvidia’s strategy to reach $500 billion in cumulative sales of its compute GPUs by the end of 2026. Despite the ongoing restrictions on selling its products in China, Huang remains confident the company can meet this target. “We have said for some time now, our forecast for China is zero,” he stated. “We would love the opportunity to be able to re-engage the Chinese market with the excellent products that we deliver and to be able to compete globally. The Chinese AI market is very large. This year, my guess is probably about $50 billion.” Huang acknowledged the significance of the Chinese market but reiterated that Nvidia continues to advocate with both U.S. and Chinese authorities to restore access to the region. “Until then, we should assume zero,” he said, underscoring the company’s commitment to compliance while pushing forward with global growth. The Vera Rubin launch is expected to strengthen Nvidia’s position in the AI infrastructure space, particularly as demand for high-performance computing continues to surge. The company maintains its “once-a-year” product cycle, and the early 2026 rollout suggests continued momentum in its innovation pipeline.