Multi-layer collaboration with NVIDIA spans NVIDIA Alpamayo foundation model adaptation, DRIVE Hyperion platform and NVIDIA Halos

PlusAI today announced an expanded collaboration with NVIDIA that supports the commercialization of PlusAI's SuperDrive™ virtual driver for fully driverless commercial operations on factory-built autonomous trucks expected to begin in 2027.

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PlusAI's AV2.0 architecture for the Physical AI world

The collaboration, announced at NVIDIA GTC, advances three interconnected capabilities in the SuperDrive self-driving system: AI reasoning through the NVIDIA Alpamayo foundation model, hardware-level integration through NVIDIA DRIVE Hyperion and safety through NVIDIA Halos.

"By working with NVIDIA as one of the first partners to apply Alpamayo to autonomous trucking, we are building on an AI foundation that spans cloud reasoning to edge deployment. This continued collaboration between PlusAI and NVIDIA across Alpamayo, Hyperion, and Halos ensures that as AI evolves, PlusAI remains at the forefront, delivering a certifiable, autonomous trucking solution that can redefine global freight," said David Liu, CEO and Co-founder of PlusAI.

Teaching Trucks to Reason

Building on years of collaboration, PlusAI is now one of the first to move into the next generation of AI reasoning with adapting the NVIDIA Alpamayo foundation model specifically for heavy duty trucking. The adaptation begins with the sensor setup. A fully loaded semi-truck sees the world differently, with distinct sightlines, blind spots, and spatial requirements that must be considered in the model's foundational representations.

To deploy that capability within the strict compute limits of automotive-grade hardware, PlusAI uses a teacher-student architecture. A large 10-billion-parameter reasoning Vision-Language-Action (VLA) model is trained using reinforcement learning against safety constraints and traffic rules. As a result of this training, it develops advanced reasoning capabilities. A compact 0.5-billion-parameter model then learns from it, inheriting that reasoning while running efficiently at the edge, where latency is measured in milliseconds. The reasoning model works in conjunction with other models running on board.

The result is a system that can reason about complex, novel driving situations without requiring a data center on wheels.

Built Into the Truck, Not Bolted On

In collaboration with International Motors, PlusAI and NVIDIA are advancing production-ready Level 4 autonomous trucks built on the NVIDIA DRIVE AGX Hyperion platform.

The new factory-built vehicles will integrate:

International's vehicle architecture and manufacturing expertise
PlusAI's SuperDrive™ virtual driver technology
NVIDIA DRIVE AGX Thor system-on-a-chip (SoC) and NVIDIA DriveOS, based on NVIDIA Halos safety system.

Engineered from the factory floor up, the trucks feature a combination of sensors including lidar, radar, and cameras which provide 360-degree awareness surrounding the vehicle. Paired with high-performance AI computing from NVIDIA, the platform delivers the redundancy, sensor fusion, and high-speed inference required for safe driverless operation in complex, long-haul freight environments.

Independent Validation, Not Just Internal Testing

To ensure the safe scaling of fully driverless commercial operations, PlusAI has joined the NVIDIA Halos AI Systems Inspection Lab and is now one of its newest members.

NVIDIA Halos is a full-stack, comprehensive safety system that unifies vehicle architecture, AI models, chips, software, tools, and services to support the safe development of autonomous vehicles (AVs), from cloud to car.

NVIDIA is the first company in the world to establish an ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB)-accredited AI Systems Inspection Lab, integrating functional safety, cybersecurity, AI, and regulations into a unified safety framework.

In addition to third-party certifications PlusAI obtained, the integration of PlusAI's SuperDrive™ with NVIDIA platform is scheduled to undergo independent assessment against three international standards as part of Halos AI Systems Inspection Lab scope: functional safety (ISO 26262), cybersecurity (ISO/SAE 21434), and AI safety (ISO PAS 8800).

Passing inspection yields an official certificate that directly supports final certification by globally recognized bodies. The approval from global organizations opens doors to commercial deployment in major markets.

"PlusAI's integration of the NVIDIA AI stack, from training foundation models with Alpamayo to deployment on Hyperion platform, marks a significant milestone in our continued, long-term collaboration. By being one of the first to adapt Alpamayo for the unique demands of heavy-duty trucking, PlusAI is demonstrating how generative AI can move from the data center to the driver's seat. This comprehensive approach across our Alpamayo, Hyperion, and Halos platforms provides the end-to-end framework that can accelerate the deployment of safe, production-ready autonomous trucking to the global market," said Rishi Dhall, Vice President of Automotive at NVIDIA.

This tightly integrated approach can enable scalable manufacturing and position PlusAI and its OEM partners for large-scale freight deployment of autonomous trucks.

About PlusAI

PlusAI is an artificial intelligence company pioneering AI-based virtual driver software for factory-built autonomous trucks. Headquartered in Silicon Valley with operations in the United States and Europe, PlusAI was named by Fast Company as one of the World's Most Innovative Companies. Partners including TRATON GROUP's Scania, MAN, and International brands, Hyundai Motor Company, Iveco Group, NVIDIA, Bosch, DSV, and Goodyear are working with PlusAI to accelerate the deployment of next-generation autonomous trucks. PlusAI announced in June 2025 that it plans to go public via a merger with Churchill Capital Corp IX ("Churchill IX"). For more information, visit www.plus.ai or follow PlusAI on LinkedIn, X, and YouTube.

About Churchill Capital Corp IX

Churchill IX is a blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, amalgamation, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. It may pursue an initial business combination target in any business or industry.

Additional Information About the Proposed Transaction and Where to Find It

The proposed transaction will be submitted to shareholders of Churchill IX for their consideration. Churchill IX has filed the Registration Statement with the SEC, which includes a proxy statement/prospectus that has been distributed to Churchill IX's shareholders in connection with Churchill IX's solicitation of proxies for the vote by Churchill IX's shareholders in connection with the proposed transaction and other matters described in the Registration Statement, as well as the prospectus relating to the offer of the securities to be issued to PlusAI stockholders in connection with the completion of the proposed transaction. The Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC and Churchill IX has mailed a proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant documents to its shareholders as of the record date established for voting on the proposed transaction. Before making any voting or investment decision, Churchill IX shareholders, PlusAI stockholders and other interested persons are advised to read the proxy statement/prospectus, as well as other documents filed with the SEC by Churchill IX in connection with the proposed transaction, as these documents will contain important information about Churchill IX, PlusAI and the proposed transaction. Shareholders may obtain a copy of the proxy statement statement/prospectus, as well as other documents filed by Churchill IX with the SEC, without charge, at the SEC's website located at www.sec.gov or by directing a written request to Churchill Capital Corp IX, 640 Fifth Avenue, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10019.

Forward Looking Statements

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These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Such risks and uncertainties include: that PlusAI is pursuing an emerging technology, faces significant technical challenges and may not achieve commercialization or market acceptance; PlusAI's historical net losses and limited operating history; PlusAI's expectations regarding future financial performance, capital requirements and unit economics; PlusAI's use and reporting of business and operational metrics; PlusAI's competitive landscape; PlusAI's dependence on members of its senior management and its ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; the capital requirements of PlusAI's business plans and the potential need for additional future financing; PlusAI's ability to manage growth and expand its operations; potential future acquisitions or investments in companies, products, services or technologies; PlusAI's reliance on strategic partners and other third parties; PlusAI's ability to maintain, protect and defend its intellectual property rights; risks associated with privacy, data protection or cybersecurity incidents and related regulations; the use and regulation of artificial intelligence and machine learning; uncertainty or changes with respect to laws and regulations; uncertainty or changes with respect to taxes, trade conditions and the macroeconomic environment; the combined company's ability to maintain internal control over financial reporting and operate a public company; the risk that shareholders of Churchill IX could elect to have their shares redeemed, leaving the combined company with insufficient cash to execute its business plans; the occurrence of any event, change, or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the business combination agreement; the outcome of any legal proceedings or government investigations that may be commenced against PlusAI or Churchill IX; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction; the ability of Churchill IX or the combined company to issue equity or equity-linked securities in connection with the proposed transaction or in the future; and other factors described in Churchill IX's filings with the SEC. Additional information concerning these and other factors that may impact such forward-looking statements can be found in filings and potential filings by PlusAI, Churchill IX or the combined company resulting from the proposed transaction with the SEC, including under the heading "Risk Factors." If any of these risks materialize or assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. In addition, these statements reflect the expectations, plans and forecasts of PlusAI's and Churchill IX's management as of the date of this communication; subsequent events and developments may cause their assessments to change. While PlusAI and Churchill IX may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, they specifically disclaim any obligation to do so. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon these statements.

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PlusAI Brings NVIDIA Alpamayo Foundation Model to Autonomous Trucks