Nvidia Corp. is working to make humanoid robots safer around people, arguing that they’ll need to handle split-second decisions before they can be trusted to work closely with humans.

The chipmaker is offering software and semiconductors that will allow humanoids to enter the workplace and truly interact with people — even making physical contact if necessary. Nvidia’s Halos software, developed from systems used for self-driving vehicles, will be the basis of computers that give robots a much better awareness of what’s happening around them, the company said in a statement Monday.

Nvidia and its Silicon Valley peers are racing to develop technology for robotics, billing it as the next big market for artificial intelligence. The machines will evolve into a market with billions of devices, tech executives predict.