Serendipity and Success:
Jensen Wong met his wife, Lori, while they were lab partners in an electrical engineering class at Oregon State University. Wong believes that serendipity played a significant role in his success.

Attraction to Intelligence:
Wong emphasizes the importance of intelligence and academic achievement in attracting potential partners. He encourages students to excel in their studies, as intelligence is attractive.

OSU Campus Evolution:
Wong notes that the Oregon State University campus has changed significantly over the past 30 years. The buildings and the people seem smaller now compared to when he was a student.

Early Career at AMD:
After graduating from OSU, Wong worked for AMD, a company that manufactures microprocessors. He was drawn to AMD because of a poster in the lab showcasing the world’s first bipolar microprocessor made using ECL technology.

ECL Technology:
ECL (Emitter-Coupled Logic) is a high-speed digital logic family that uses current steering to create logic gates. ECL technology allows for the construction of fast microprocessors.

Discovering the Power of Design Tools:
Jen-Hsun Huang’s initial work on microprocessors at AMD sparked his interest in the potential of design tools for chip creation.

The Significance of Design Tools:
Design tools revolutionized the chip design process by enabling custom chips to be created based on system-level ideas, thereby increasing productivity.

LSI Logic’s Pioneering Role:
LSI Logic’s focus on design tools attracted Jen-Hsun Huang, who joined the company and discovered the transformative power of these tools.

The Evolution of Design Methodology:
The concept of design methodology emerged, emphasizing rigorous design rules to facilitate tool assistance and optimization.

The Impact on Chip Design and Programming:
Design methodology became integral to chip design and programming, allowing tools to aid in design synthesis and optimization.

Andy Bechtolsheim’s Innovative Vision:
Jen-Hsun Huang’s collaboration with Andy Bechtolsheim, a Stanford University student, led to the development of the Spark Station 1.

The Intersection of Imagination and Design Tools:
Bechtolsheim sought Huang’s expertise in design tools to realize his vision for a compact and powerful computer.

From Idea to Silicon:
The journey from an idea to a physical silicon chip involves leveraging design tools to translate concepts into tangible technology.

The Significance of Design Tools and Methodology:
Jen-Hsun Huang’s profound realization that design methodology and tools hold greater importance than the actual designs themselves. This epiphany paved the way for his later contributions to the field of computer graphics.

The Spark Stations and the Genesis of NVIDIA:
Huang’s involvement in the development of multiple generations of computers, fostering his passion for computer architecture. Collaboration with Chris Malachowski and Curtis Preem, leading to the founding of NVIDIA.

The Vision for NVIDIA:
Recognizing the potential of 3D graphics as a new medium for storytelling. Identifying the unique characteristics of 3D graphics, including real-time synthesis, interactivity, and shareability. Acknowledging the complexity of 3D graphics and questioning its potential for widespread appeal.

Key Questions Guiding NVIDIA’s Journey:
Assessing whether 3D graphics could be something people would love and appreciate. Evaluating the long-term viability and challenge of pursuing 3D graphics as a career.

The Three Important Questions:
Is the work something you love and find worthwhile? Is the work hard to do? Is the work worthy of the talent and effort of your team?

Why These Questions Matter:
If you don’t love the work, you won’t be motivated to do your best. If the work is not hard, it’s not likely to be valuable or meaningful. If the work is not worthy of your team’s talent, they won’t be motivated to do their best.

The Case of 3D Graphics:
In 1993, Jen-Hsun Huang and his team at NVIDIA asked themselves these three questions about 3D graphics. They concluded that 3D graphics had the potential to be a major industry, but it was hard to do well. Despite the challenges, they decided to pursue 3D graphics because they loved the work and believed it was worthwhile.

The Success of NVIDIA:
NVIDIA’s focus on hard, worthwhile work has led to its success in the 3D graphics industry. The company has grown from three employees in 1993 to over 9,000 employees today. NVIDIA’s GPUs are used in a wide range of applications, from video games to scientific research.

The Importance of Knowing What You’re Doing and Why:
Jen-Hsun Huang emphasizes the importance of knowing what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. He believes that this knowledge can help you make better decisions and achieve greater success.

The Passion Behind Innovation:
Passion for how something is built can lead to new perspectives and change one’s worldview.

The Purpose of Work:
In 1993, NVIDIA was the first company to attempt consumerizing 3D graphics, predating the PlayStation 2.

Challenges in Early 3D Graphics:
DRAM prices were high, making it expensive to produce 3D graphics cards. A 3D graphics card with 4 megabytes of DRAM cost around $1,000, far from a consumer-friendly price point.

Technological Innovation:
NVIDIA invented technology to virtualize texture memory and eliminate the need for a Z-buffer, making 3D graphics more affordable.

Market Dynamics and DRAM Pricing:
DRAM pricing is not technology-driven but rather determined by supply and demand, similar to commodities like pork bellies and orange juice. A sudden drop in DRAM prices from $50 to $5 per megabyte disrupted NVIDIA’s assumptions about the market.

The Impact of Changing Assumptions:
When fundamental assumptions about the surrounding environment change, it can significantly impact a company’s strategy and operations.

NVIDIA’s Transition:
NVIDIA shifted from being the world’s first company working on 3D graphics to the last company using its unique technology. The industry adopted OpenGL, which used triangles, Z-buffers, and inverse texturing, instead of NVIDIA’s forward texturing and curved surfaces.

The Dilemma:
NVIDIA faced a critical juncture in 1985 when their innovative architecture was deemed obsolete due to the decreasing cost of DRAMs. The company was running out of money and faced fierce competition.

Choosing the Right Path:
After intense discussions, NVIDIA’s leadership realized that abandoning their unique approach would lead to mediocrity among numerous competitors. They decided to persevere, believing in the potential of 3D graphics and the strength of their team.

The Last Hand Strategy:
NVIDIA recognized their position as the last company in the race and embraced it. They understood that being last allowed them to study the strategies of their competitors and play their final hand aggressively. The company dedicated all its resources to creating a superior product, unconstrained by cost or resource management concerns.

Unconventional Approach:
NVIDIA built the world’s largest non-microprocessor chip, prioritizing performance over cost. They utilized floating-point calculations for efficiency and pipelined their floating-point engine for maximum speed. The resulting chip was massive and expensive but achieved unprecedented power.

Leaving a Mark:
NVIDIA’s bold approach resulted in a product that revolutionized the industry. The company aimed to leave a lasting impact, not just a small dent in the market. This decision laid the foundation for NVIDIA’s future success as a leader in graphics technology.

Riva 128: A Hail Mary Play that Saved NVIDIA:
NVIDIA faced a critical situation with only nine months of funding left and a two-year development cycle for their 3D graphics chip. Jen-Hsun Huang made a bold decision to invest in an emulator machine, the Icos Emulator, to develop software before chip production. This risky move allowed NVIDIA to perfect the chip before tape-out, ensuring a flawless product launch.

Revo 128’s Success and Industry Dominance:
Riva 128 was the world’s first graphics chip to exceed expectations and became a revolutionary product. It brought forth advanced features like 100-megapixel fill rate texture mapping and Z-buffering, enabling complex 3D graphics with limited CPU resources. Riva 128’s success propelled NVIDIA to become the industry leader in 3D graphics.

Transistor Count and Moore’s Law:
The evolution of NVIDIA’s graphics processors from Riva 128 to GeForce GTX Titan highlights the rapid advancement in transistor count. Riva 128 had 3 million transistors, while the latest GeForce GTX Titan boasts 7 billion transistors. This exponential growth exceeds Moore’s Law’s predictions, showcasing the relentless pursuit of computational power in GPUs.

Reinvention and Industry Disruption:
NVIDIA faced the challenge of reinvention when Intel entered the integrated 3D graphics market. The company’s unique perspective on the future of 3D graphics led to a strategic shift, focusing on programmability and parallel processing. This vision resulted in the development of programmable shaders, transforming GPUs into powerful computing platforms.

NVIDIA’s Legacy and Continued Innovation:
NVIDIA’s bold decisions and innovative spirit have cemented its position as a technology leader in the graphics industry. The company’s relentless pursuit of computational power and reinvention has driven the growth of 3D graphics and revolutionized fields such as gaming, AI, and scientific computing. NVIDIA continues to push the boundaries of what is possible with GPUs, shaping the future of computing and enabling groundbreaking technological advancements.

Perspective on Mission Statements:
Jen-Hsun Huang emphasizes that NVIDIA’s mission statement, centered around 3D graphics as a storytelling medium, may sound abstract and open-ended. He contrasts this with other companies’ mission statements, such as building the fastest graphics chip or being a one-stop shop for industry-standard PC components.

The Limitation of Narrow Mission Statements:
Huang points out that mission statements focused on achieving a specific benchmark, like building the fastest chip, limit a company’s perspective to the present and restrict innovation. Similarly, mission statements aimed at meeting industry standards limit differentiation and exploration beyond existing norms.

NVIDIA’s Mission Statement:
NVIDIA’s mission statement, while broad and potentially open-ended, allowed the company to explore new possibilities and push boundaries in 3D graphics technology. It enabled NVIDIA to envision and create new applications and use cases for graphics beyond traditional benchmarks and industry standards.

The Power of a Forward-Looking Mission:
A mission statement that focuses on creating a new medium for storytelling, like NVIDIA’s, encourages a forward-looking mindset and opens up opportunities for innovation and disruption. It allows a company to transcend existing limitations and create entirely new categories and markets.

NVIDIA’s Journey in Graphics Innovation:
NVIDIA’s mission was to make 3D graphics a more expressive medium for storytelling. John Carmack’s game Doom revolutionized the gaming industry, highlighting the need for more expressive graphics.

The Invention of Programmable Shaders:
NVIDIA introduced programmable shaders, allowing for greater customization and diversity in game graphics. This innovation saved the company from the commoditization of fixed function graphics acceleration.

Expanding into Computational Graphics:
NVIDIA ventured into computational graphics, introducing CUDA technology. This opened up the GPU for programmability in various applications beyond traditional graphics.

The Importance of Meaningful Work:
Jen-Hsun Huang emphasizes the significance of doing relevant and exquisite work. He believes that creating shareholder value is important, but it should not compromise the quality of the work. Huang stresses the importance of doing work that one can be proud of, even if it goes unnoticed by others.

The Shareholder Report Example:
NVIDIA faced the reality that shareholder reports are rarely read. Huang insisted on putting heart and soul into the report, even if only a few hundred people would read it. He believes that every piece of work, no matter how small or unseen, should be done with the utmost effort and pride.

The Value of Personal Judgment:
Huang highlights the significance of personal judgment in evaluating one’s work. He believes that individuals should strive to do their best work, even if it is only seen by themselves. Ultimately, the goal is to create work that one can be proud of, regardless of external recognition.

Jen-Hsun Huang’s Reflections on NVIDIA’s Journey:
NVIDIA’s story is one of continuous reinvention and adaptation to technological advancements. The company recognized the growing importance of mobile and cloud computing and shifted its focus accordingly. They developed new technologies to integrate computer graphics into mobile devices and the cloud, such as Tegra, Shield, and Grid.

NVIDIA’s Vision for the Future of Computer Graphics:
NVIDIA aims to make computer graphics accessible with just one click from any device. This vision would expand the reach and enjoyment of computer graphics and video games.

Challenges Faced During NVIDIA’s Early Days:
Limited funding was a significant challenge during NVIDIA’s early days. The founders, Jen-Hsun Huang and Lori Huang, relied on their savings to sustain the company before securing funding. Despite financial constraints, they remained hopeful and driven by their passion for innovation.

Sand Hill Road and Venture Capital:
Jen-Hsun Huang, the CEO of NVIDIA, shared his experience seeking funding for his 3D graphics company on Sand Hill Road, the hub of venture capital firms.

The Importance of a Killer App:
Potential investors were skeptical about the viability of 3D graphics technology and questioned its killer app. Huang argued that games could serve as the killer app, but the idea was met with skepticism.

Don Valentine’s Investment and Advice:
Wolf Corrigan, Huang’s former CEO at LSI Logic, recommended Don Valentine, a renowned venture capitalist, to Huang. Despite initial hesitation, Huang eventually met with Valentine, who agreed to invest in his company. Valentine emphasized the importance of a killer product, a large market, and a capable team.

The Learning from the Experience:
Huang realized that a comprehensive business plan was less crucial than the ability to adapt and reinvent as the world changes.

Challenges of Cloud Graphics Processing:
The speed of light and latency pose significant challenges for cloud graphics processing. The need for real-time interactivity requires data to travel through various components within a limited timeframe. The distance between the user and the cloud server introduces additional latency.

Latency and the Impact on Gaming:
Latency affects the responsiveness and interactivity of cloud graphics processing. Avid gamers and professional gamers are particularly sensitive to latency and can notice delays as low as 60 to 90 milliseconds. In games like Guitar Hero, latency can significantly impact gameplay, leading to the need for prediction and anticipation.

The Need for Low Latency Solutions:
Overcoming latency is a key challenge in enabling effective cloud graphics processing. Innovations in technology and network infrastructure are necessary to reduce latency and improve the user experience.

Context Switching:
GPUs are notoriously bad at context switching due to their long pipeline stages, making it difficult to support multiple users simultaneously.

Virtualization and Shareability:
To overcome this challenge, NVIDIA developed Kepler, the world’s first virtualizable GPU, allowing context switching and sharing among multiple users without OS involvement.

Grid Computing and Density:
The goal is to make GPUs shareable among a large number of people in a cost-effective manner. The challenge lies in increasing the density of concurrent users per node, requiring significant technological advancements.

GPU Hypervisor and System Architecture:
NVIDIA has developed the world’s first GPU hypervisor and a new system architecture to enable cloud graphics. This breakthrough allows multiple users to share a single GPU, enabling cost-effective cloud gaming and other applications.

Grid:
NVIDIA is introducing a new product called Grid, a visual computing appliance similar to network and storage appliances. Grid connects to the network, providing easy access to graphics capabilities.

Top Three Things Learned at OSU:
Lori Huang (his wife) was a significant influence. The importance of the people you meet, especially for him.

E.E. Fundy’s Class:
Professor E.E. Fundy used round numbers in class and labs, emphasizing the understanding of first principles and key variables rather than specific details. This approach led to “CEO math,” where round numbers are used to focus on the most important variables.

Academics vs. Living:
Academics was always a given for Jen-Hsun, but learning social skills was new and challenging for him. He found a good friend in Henry Weinhardt, highlighting the importance of friendships in personal growth. Social growth is considered equally important to academic growth, especially for introverted and shy individuals.