Nvidia has just become the world’s most valuable company, surpassing Microsoft after its share price soared to an all-time high of $136. This achievement has brought Jen-Hsun Huang, the company’s founder and chief executive, into the spotlight. Now worth $119 billion, Huang ranks as the eleventh richest person globally.
Huang, often called ‘Jensen’, is regarded as the ‘godfather of AI’ by Wall Street. Born in Taiwan, Huang moved to the US when he was nine. He excelled in school, graduating high school early before obtaining a degree in electrical engineering from Oregon State and a master’s from Stanford. His career started at Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) in microprocessor design. In 1993, Huang co-founded Nvidia with two friends, making the company a leader in artificial intelligence (AI) and graphics technology.
Nvidia’s stock price has skyrocketed almost doubling this year and making it worth $3.34 trillion. Investors are thrilled by Nvidia’s role in AI technology, such as AI processors and systems like ChatGPT. Someone who invested $8,000 nine years ago would now have a stake worth over $1.22 million. The company has also recently overtaken the entire FTSE 100 index in market value.
Huang’s leadership style and success have drawn comparisons to tech icons like Steve Jobs. Known for his trademark black leather jacket, Huang has a knack for creating excitement around Nvidia’s products, which have unique names like ‘Hopper’ and ‘Rubin’. At the recent Computex conference in Taiwan, he hinted at a new wave of AI, stating, ‘The next wave of AI is physical AI. AI that understands the laws of physics… Everything is going to be robotic.’
While Nvidia excels in AI, it also produces leading graphics cards for gaming and car screens. Huang ensures that Nvidia’s products only work with their software, a tactic that some say creates a monopoly. This strategy has caught the attention of US authorities, with the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission launching investigations into major AI market players, including Nvidia. However, the market remains largely unfazed, remembering how similar scrutiny hasn’t impeded companies like Apple, which remains the third most valuable company globally.
Nvidia’s meteoric rise under Jen-Hsun Huang’s leadership marks a significant milestone in the tech world. As the company continues to push the boundaries of AI and graphics technology, it remains to be seen how regulatory scrutiny will impact its future. Nevertheless, Nvidia’s current position as the world’s most valuable company establishes Huang as a pivotal figure in modern technology.