Nvidia is one of the most innovative and influential companies in the field of computing, thanks to its leadership in the graphics chip sector and its openness to the world of artificial intelligence. With a market value reaching $1 trillion, it has entered the exclusive club of companies surpassing this milestone.

But what is the secret to its success? And what are its challenges for the future?

In this episode of ChronoBrands, I will delve into the successes and failures of Nvidia.

Nvidia’s Story

Nvidia was founded in 1993 when three engineers, Jen-Hsun Huang, Chris Malachowsky, and Curtis Priem, decided to establish a company dedicated to the production of graphics chips, which are components that enable the processing and display of images on screens. Their goal was to create increasingly powerful and fast chips capable of supporting advanced graphical applications such as video games, virtual reality, and computer graphics.

In 1999, Nvidia launched its first successful graphics chip, the GeForce 256, which was hailed as the first “graphics processing unit” (GPU) as it integrated various functions previously handled by other components. Since then, Nvidia has become the undisputed leader in the GPU market, thanks to its ability to innovate and anticipate the needs of consumers and developers.

Over the years, Nvidia has expanded its scope, entering new sectors such as mobile devices, data centers, automotive, and artificial intelligence. The latter has become its main bet for the future as Nvidia recognizes the potential of its GPUs to accelerate the calculations required for machine learning, the branch of AI that involves machines learning from data and experiences.

The AI Supercomputer

To demonstrate its leadership in the field of AI, Nvidia unveiled its new AI-based supercomputer, the DGX GH200, at Computex 2023, one of the world’s most important computing conferences.

This powerful machine integrates 256 Superchips called Grace Hopper, capable of handling large-scale generative artificial intelligence workloads. This means that the supercomputer can create original and realistic content such as texts, images, graphics, and 3D worlds based on existing data and models.

The DGX GH200 is intended for use by high-level companies looking to develop and deploy their AI projects more quickly. Among Nvidia’s clients, as CEO Jensen Huang, are Google Cloud, Meta, and Microsoft.

These companies can utilize the supercomputer to create applications with advanced chatbots, tools for monitoring internet security, realistic video games with characters capable of changing speech and attitudes with players depending on the context, and much more.

Nvidia has already used its supercomputer to create Helios, an operational supercomputer built on a platform consisting of four DGX GH200 systems.

Helios has been used by Nvidia to demonstrate its generative artificial intelligence capabilities, creating an array of impressive content including a Beatles-style song, a Dante-style poem, a parody of an Elon speech, and a simulation of a virtual world.

Market Value

Nvidia’s announcements at Computex 2023 came just days after the rapid rise of its stock price, which led the company to reach a market value of nearly one trillion dollars. This exceptional result reflects Nvidia’s solidity and vision, as it has been able to diversify its business and invest in AI, the most promising and competitive sector of computing.

Nvidia has also benefited from strong demand for chips, which has affected the entire sector due to the pandemic and digitalization. Its chips are in demand by both consumers, who use them for gaming, virtual reality, and editing, and by businesses, which use them for data centers, automotive, and AI.

Nvidia recorded record revenues in the first quarter of 2023, totaling $7.1 billion, an 84% increase compared to the same period the previous year.