Nvidia Unveils Affordable ‘Jetson Computer’ for Local AI Development

Nvidia launches a $249 Jetson computer, the Orin Nano, designed for hobbyists and developers to run AI applications locally, doubling speed and efficiency.

Nvidia has introduced a new $249 version of its Jetson computer, the Orin Nano, aimed at enabling local execution of artificial intelligence applications. This palm-sized device boasts twice the speed and efficiency of its predecessor at half the cost, capable of handling approximately 70% more computational tasks, according to Nvidia.

Perfect for hobbyists training their own AI applications and developers of robots and industrial tools, the Orin Nano allows for sophisticated application running without the need for cloud connectivity. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang showcased the product in a YouTube video, highlighting its ability to process nearly ‘seventy trillion’ operations per second while consuming only 25 watts of power.

Originally intended to power robots, Jetson computers can now also run large language models like Meta’s Llama. Companies like Sam Altman’s startup World (formerly Worldcoin) utilize Jetpack modules in their Orb scanning devices for human identity authentication. The latest iteration of the Orb features an advanced NVIDIA Jetson module, offering nearly 5x the AI performance for faster, more seamless human verification.

The Orin Nano serves as a portable AI brain, capable of enhancing the functionality of other hardware. While it won’t replace high-end GPUs for large-scale AI model training and inference, it democratizes access to AI development, making it more affordable and accessible for startups and hobbyists alike.