Nvidia is a big name on the scene when it comes to graphics cards, but Workbench sees the company take steps in entering the new territory of generative AI. So what exactly is Nvidia AI Workbench? With an announcement timed to coincide with SIGGRAPH, the annual AI academic conference, Nvidia has released Workbench, a new platform that allows users to create and test generative AI models. This article will unpack exactly what the Nvidia Workbench toolkit is, and what AI developers will be able to do with it.

What is Nvidia AI Workbench?

Called AI Workbench, Nvidia‘s latest project aims to “remove the complexity of getting started with an enterprise AI project”. Essentially, Workbench provides a simple interface that runs on a PC or workstation, through which developers can test and customize models from popular repositories of open-source or commercially available artificial intelligence code. These include Github, Hugging Face, and also Nvidia's own enterprise web portal NVIDIA NGC. Developers can then import the model code or LLM data and personalize it to their liking, before scaling it to a data center or public cloud.

It’s been designed to streamline the process of AI development, making it not just more efficient but more accessible. The vice president of enterprise computing at Nvidia, Manuvir Das, states that in a time when “enterprises around the world are racing to find the right infrastructure and build generative AI models and applications”, Workbench will provide an uncomplicated path for cross-organizational teams to create business based AI applications.

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Is Nvidia Workbench free?

There is currently little information available on the pricing of AI Workbench, so it’s unclear if the software will be free for public use. As the platform was only recently announced, it is not yet available to download. However, you can request early access through the Nvidia website.

Who’s invested in Nvidia AI?

The Nvidia press release states that leading AI infrastructure providers such as Lenovo, Dell Technologies, HP Inc., Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and Supermicro see the potential of AI Workbench’s technology, and will be using it to “augment their latest generation of multi-GPU-capable desktop workstations, high-end mobile workstations and virtual workstations”.

Final thoughts

Nvidia has made a move for the democratization of AI, through the creation of AI Workbench, a software that will simplify the complex processes of tuning, scaling, and deploying AI models. It combines these processes into one unified workspace, making the creation of AI-based applications more efficient and accessible. Although the upcoming software is currently unavailable as it just got announced, early access to Workbench will begin soon, and you can register your interest through the Nvidia website. In the meantime, you can keep up-to-date with the latest AI news, including ChatGPT updates and plug-ins, and developments with other big names such as Google Bard.

About the Author

Marla Broadway

Marla writes across a wide range of topics across PC Guide, including AI, PC hardware, and news on the latest tech releases. She's a passionate writer that's interested in the future of technology.