AI and Quantum Stocks Heat Up Ahead of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s Keynote

Key Takeaways

• Quantum computing and AI stocks rallied ahead of Nvidia’s annual GTC conference.
• Nvidia’s five-day event will showcase new AI advancements.
• Analysts anticipate updates on AI workloads, Physical AI, and robotics.

Quantum computing and artificial intelligence stocks surged Monday as investors bet on fresh momentum from Nvidia’s highly anticipated GTC conference.

The five-day event, which began this week, is expected to highlight Nvidia’s latest advancements in AI, robotics, and quantum computing—sectors that have seen volatile trading in recent months.

The conference, a flagship event for AI and computing, is drawing particular attention as Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is set to deliver a keynote unveiling new AI chips and next-gen computing architectures.

The event has historically served as a catalyst for AI-related stocks, and investors are watching closely for announcements that could reshape the sector.

AI and Quantum Stocks Rally

Shares of quantum computing firms saw sharp gains ahead of Nvidia’s keynote. D-Wave Quantum (QBTS) rose 10%, Quantum Corp (QMCO) surged 40%, and Quantum Computing (QUBT) climbed 13%.

AI-related stocks also jumped, with SES AI (SES) leading the sector’s gains with a 50% rally. Dell Technologies (DELL) added 2.1%, while semiconductor giant Intel (INTC) rose 6.8%.

Nvidia (NVDA), however, dipped 1.6% as investors braced for its major product announcements.

Analysts believe the recent pullback in AI and quantum computing stocks created a “buy-the-dip” opportunity, with Nvidia’s conference acting as a potential turning point for investor sentiment.

Nvidia GTC: What to Expect

Nvidia’s GTC conference, running through March 21, features keynotes, workshops, and industry panels on AI, robotics, and computing.

The highlight of the event will be CEO Jensen Huang’s keynote at the SAP Center in San Jose, California, where he is expected to introduce Nvidia’s next-generation AI chip, the Blackwell Ultra, a more powerful version of its recently announced Blackwell architecture.

During Nvidia’s Q4 earnings call , Huang previewed some of the upcoming announcements, teasing “exciting updates” on AI model training, enterprise AI, and robotics.

Beyond AI chips, analysts expect Nvidia to unveil the Rubin platform , a next-gen GPU platform, alongside the Vera Rubin super chip, which merges the Rubin GPU with Nvidia’s Vera CPUs.

These innovations could drive new AI capabilities, particularly in Physical AI and autonomous robotics.

The Future of AI and Optical Computing

Market watchers also anticipate Nvidia will provide updates on optical computing—a technology seen as crucial for next-generation AI data centers.

“We expect Mr. Huang to share insights on the evolution of AI workloads and offer additional commentary on emerging AI areas such as Physical AI and robotics,” Stifel analyst Ruben Roy said in a note to clients.

Jefferies analysts believe “the noise around CPO [Co-Packaged Optics] will resurface over the next few weeks” as Nvidia delves into how optical technology will transform AI infrastructure.

With AI and computing stocks already riding a wave of investor optimism, Nvidia’s announcements could determine whether the rally has real momentum—or is just another speculative surge.