Nvidia created the CUDA parallel-computing platform and became synonymous with modern GPU acceleration.
Nvidia was founded in 1993 by Jensen Huang, Chris Malachowsky, and Curtis Priem. The company initially focused on graphics processors for personal computers and video games, where GPUs perform many calculations simultaneously.
Nvidia introduced CUDA in 2006. CUDA allowed developers to use compatible graphics processors for general-purpose computing, not only for rendering images. That capability became important in scientific computing, machine learning, and artificial-intelligence development.
The company’s market capitalization expanded dramatically as demand grew for data-center accelerators used to train and run AI models. Nvidia designs chips and software but relies on outside foundries, including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, for much of its manufacturing.