Founded in 1993, NVIDIA, known for cutting-edge technology innovation, started as a designer of graphics chips for the gaming industry. Now, it has grown into a global leader in AI and high-performance computing, valued at around $2 trillion. As the third largest company in the world by market cap, it surpasses giants such as Amazon and Google.
NVIDIA was initiated by Jensen Huang, Chris Malachowsky, and Curtis Priem who saw the untapped potential of graphics processors. In 1995, NVIDIA’s NV1 chip was chosen by Sega for its next-generation gaming console, the Sega Saturn, despite not being a commercial success in the PC market. However, the company’s subsequent product, the RIVA 128, laid the groundwork for NVIDIA’s future dominance in the graphics card market.
Beyond gaming, NVIDIA introduced Compute Unified Device Architecture in 2006, which allowed developers to use the parallel processing power of GPUs. This opened up new opportunities in industries like scientific research and medical imaging. Other influences that have contributed to NVIDIA’s success include strategic investments in AI technologies, smart navigation of US export restrictions, cutting-edge robotics development, and high financial performance driven by record sales in the data center segment.
For now, NVIDIA remains a dominant force in the high-tech market. However, growing competition in the AI chip market, a potential cooling in the AI market, and challenges such as power consumption and need for natural resources may pose significant obstacles for the company in the future. Despite these challenges, NVIDIA’s leadership is aware of these issues and is actively seeking solutions to ensure sustainable growth.
