California Thieves Target Nvidia, Steal 20 Tons of Sand Instead

A gang of thieves in Newark, California, attempted to steal high-value AI chips from technology giant Nvidia, but ended up with 20 tons of sand. The robbers targeted two trailers belonging to autonomous trucking company PlusAI, which were branded with Nvidia and PlusAI logos. Believing they were stealing advanced computer hardware, they broke into the trailers and drove off.

However, their intended score turned out to be a massive disappointment. The trailers contained approximately 40,000 pounds of sand, used by PlusAI as ballast for load and simulation testing. Upon realizing their mistake after breaking the locks, the thieves abandoned the trailers a short distance away.

A spokesperson for PlusAI confirmed that the trailers and their contents were recovered intact. The Fremont Police Department has launched an investigation into the incident.

This event occurs amidst a broader trend of escalating thefts of expensive server and data center equipment within the tech industry, with stolen goods often valued in the millions of dollars. In this instance, the thieves sought to profit from advanced silicon but were left with silica instead.

Separately, Nvidia is expanding its research and development operations in Israel, establishing a new development arm. This initiative is led by Michael Kagan, the company's global CTO and a co-founder of Mellanox, reporting directly to CEO Jensen Huang. This expansion underscores the significance of the Israeli tech ecosystem for Nvidia.