Thieves target Nvidia‑marked trailers, find sand instead

Thieves stole two trailers marked with Nvidia and PlusAI logos from outside the autonomous-trucking startup's warehouse, expecting a payday in AI GPUs, Tom's Hardware reported. The trailers held 40,000 pounds of sand instead, ballast PlusAI uses to simulate a fully loaded truck's weight during testing, according to the outlet.

PlusAI told Wired the cargo was recovered intact, confirming the trailers assist with research and development testing rather than carry hardware. An executive found the trailers about half a mile from the warehouse after receiving a tip, Yahoo News reported, citing the same account.

PlusAI's truck cabs, which do carry AI hardware, were kept secured inside the warehouse. The trailers sat outside, protected only by hand locks, according to the reporting. Police were notified after the trailers were recovered, though no arrests had been reported as of the latest coverage.

The mix-up shows how tightly Nvidia's branding is now tied to physical AI hardware. Thieves who spotted the logos apparently assumed a shipment worth far more than 20 tons of ballast sand. PlusAI did not say whether it would change how it labels or secures its trailers going forward.