Nvidia appears to be on the verge of a significant leap in graphics technology, with reports suggesting that the company is developing a new graphics architecture known as Blackwell. This potential upgrade, which is anticipated to be showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in early 2025, aims to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into video game rendering, steering away from conventional 3D pipelines towards a model reliant on neural networks for graphics processing.
Currently, there are whispers circulating about a new range of graphics cards, hinted at by the graphics card manufacturer INNO3D, which subtly suggests that this new series will be related to Nvidia’s upcoming offerings. The notes accompanying this announcement reference Nvidia’s Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) technology, ray tracing (RT) cores, and other advanced capabilities reflective of Nvidia's leading position in the market.
Key topics highlighted in these reports include the anticipated enhancements in AI-assisted tasks, which are likely to improve the efficiency of gaming and content creation processes. Specifically, the introduction of Neural Rendering Capabilities could significantly change the process by which graphics are produced and perceived. Other enhancements are expected to include AI-driven upscaling practices, which aim to improve the visual quality of video content, and optimised support for generative AI tasks, aligning with contemporary trends in AI content creation. Improved ray tracing technology is also on the agenda, promising more realistic lighting, shadows, and reflections in gaming environments.
Interestingly, discussions surrounding Neural Rendering are not new; Nvidia has previously indicated ambitions in that direction. Bryan Catanzaro, Nvidia's Vice President of Applied Deep Learning Research, noted that it is technically feasible to generate graphics rendered entirely by a neural network in real-time. However, he qualified that the graphical output achieved at that stage was not yet comparable to high-quality content like "Cyberpunk.” At present, Nvidia acknowledges that only one in eight in-game pixels is rendered via traditional methods, with the bulk generated through various AI processes.
While the full deployment of Neural Rendering—where every pixel is rendered by AI—could be an eventual goal, it may not be realised in the upcoming RTX 50-series GPUs. Instead, experts speculate that Nvidia may delegate portions of the rendering process to AI without fully relinquishing control of the entire workflow.
One possible application of this advanced technology could involve Real-Time Neural Radiance Caching for Path Tracing. This complex process would utilise AI to streamline path tracing while reducing visual noise, allowing for higher quality graphics with lower computation requirements.
As Nvidia intensifies its focus on AI technologies, industry observers suggest the forthcoming graphics cards will undoubtedly incorporate significant advancements, although it remains to be seen how these developments will manifest in practical gaming scenarios. For the time being, the gaming community watches closely, poised for Nvidia's official announcements at CES 2025 that may set the stage for the future of in-game graphics rendering.
Source: Noah Wire Services