NVIDIA: Jensen Huang. From near collapse to becoming the world’s biggest company

In this episode of "How I Built This," host Guy Raz interviews Jensen Huang, co-founder and CEO of NVIDIA. Huang reflects on the origins of NVIDIA, initially aimed at serving gamers with graphics processors. However, he made a pivotal bet in the early 2000s against common belief, investing heavily in the development of GPUs for supercomputing, which laid the groundwork for their crucial role in AI today.

He explains how NVIDIA's GPUs can handle numerous simple tasks simultaneously, akin to a kitchen staffed by many line cooks, whereas CPUs are like master chefs focusing on fewer intricate dishes. After years of losses and skepticism from investors, Huang's vision began bearing fruit with the AI boom, where NVIDIA's chips became essential for data centers globally.

Huang recounts his journey from childhood in Taiwan to studying electrical engineering and eventually starting NVIDIA with co-founders Chris Malachowsky and Curtis Priem. He recalls the initial struggles, including the company's first product failures and the pivotal decisions that led NVIDIA to redefine itself in the 2010s as an AI-focused company. Huang emphasizes the importance of perseverance and believing in one's vision, despite external pressures and market challenges. Today, NVIDIA stands as a leader in the AI revolution, valuing innovation and having a profound impact on various industries, proving Huang's long-term vision and strategy.