Jensen Huang, chief executive of Nvidia, has recently gained rock star status akin to that of a celebrity like Taylor Swift. Huang, a 61-year-old electrical engineer, is at the helm of Nvidia, a company whose market value exceeded $3 trillion, temporarily surpassing Apple as the world’s second-most valuable company. His popularity was evident at Computex 2023 in Taiwan, where he attracted crowds eager for selfies and autographs.
Huang, originally from Taiwan but now residing in Santa Clara, California, has built Nvidia into a leading designer of AI chips, propelling it and Taiwan's TSMC, its exclusive production partner, into the limelight. Taiwan holds a crucial position in global chip production amidst geopolitical tensions between the US and China over advanced chip manufacturing.
While visiting Taiwan, he announced Nvidia’s plan to establish regional headquarters on the island, reflecting his ongoing commitment to invest there amidst concerns about potential risks from Chinese aggression. Nvidia's shares have surged over 200% in the past year, reflecting its dominance in AI technology and semiconductors.
Huang’s presence at technology conferences is highly sought after, and he has been likened to a figurehead of generative AI. Despite his company’s significant market share, competitors such as AMD and Intel are striving to catch up in the booming AI market.