Just when you thought there couldn’t be more exciting tech served up this year, after one of the most impressive (and robot-filled) Consumer Electronics Shows, there’s another big tech event coming up that could see some of the industry’s titans raise the bar even higher. Undoubtedly, Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA | NVDA Price Prediction) had a pretty strong showing at CES 2026, especially after it revealed that Vera Rubin was already in full production.
With Nvidia ready to kick off its own event, GTC 2026 (an AI-focused event rather than a show meant for showing off gadgets) in mid-month, there’s bound to be a lot of hype and perhaps enough to refuel some momentum in the AI trade again.
Undoubtedly, it’s been a rather sluggish start to the year for many AI leaders as investors take a bit of profit off the table as heavy front-loaded expenses come due. After a hot run since the start of 2023, it’s not a bad idea to take profits off the AI table while waiting for the returns to come to fruition before getting back in, right?
GTC 2026 might wake up this sleepy AI trade
When it comes to spending, the stakes are as high as ever for the industry, and if some fear a bubble, why not just step back with the intent of returning when there’s more clarity and less risk?
Of course, higher risk tends to mean higher rewards. And there’s really no telling how easy it’ll be to get back into the likes of an Nvidia after a leg higher. While time will tell if GTC 2026 can help reignite the AI trade, I do think that the stage will be set for some AI giants (not just Nvidia) to flex their muscles and show the world a bit more about what’s to come in the next couple of years.
Even if Nvidia and company are able to impress, amuse, and offer a glimpse of the future, I’m not so sure how Nvidia and the rest of the AI trade will react. Either way, GTC 2026 might make it an exciting time to be an AI investor again.
Nvidia has a powerful lineup to show off and perhaps even a “surprise” or two
In my view, GTC 2026 might be more of an event that long-term investors should pay attention to as they factor in new developments into their models. With rumors swirling and Jensen Huang teasing big things to come from the event (will something really “surprise the world?”), it’s going to be an interesting mid-month for big tech, to say the least. Given all the rumors going into the event, we’ll definitely need some shockers if the AI trade or Nvidia shares are to heat up again.
Apart from the intro to the Vera Rubin platform, rumors suggest that we might get a glimpse of the Feynman architecture, which isn’t due until 2028. Also, a Wired leak suggested that Nvidia might also have its take on OpenClaw’s buzzy open-source agentic AI offering with NemoClaw.
Add the potential for physical AI innovations (think GR00T and Jetson Thor) as well as a deeper dive into the specs, and I think the setup for Nvidia stock is quite good going into an event that might be the biggest in quite a while.
With the recent investment in Thinking Machines Labs in the books, there’s going to be no shortage of material to go over at GTC.
Broadcom and Coherent could have impressive showings of their own
It’s Nvidia’s stage, and it’ll shine the brightest. But as Jensen Huang shares the stage with other AI innovators, look for other AI innovators to also have their moment to shine. Most notably, Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO) stands out as a firm to keep tabs on, with rumors that it’ll act as a “co-main event” of sorts.
The firm is rumored to do a deeper dive into its OpenAI ASIC titan. Such a move is sure to have massive implications for the entire AI scene. Whether the “Titan” chip is a game-changer for OpenAI and the industry, though, remains to be seen. Additionally, I’d look for Broadcom to reveal a bit more about the other ASICs it’s been designing alongside other hyperscaler behemoths. Could such a chip flex help lift the Mag Seven off the tarmac? We’ll have to wait and see.
Finally, investors should watch for some of Nvidia’s recent investments to take the stage. Coherent (NASDAQ:COHR) is one of Nvidia’s more recent bets and could shock and awe as it shows off its photonics and how it fits into the era of Rubin.
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