Nvidia created the CUDA platform that helped establish its GPUs in AI computing.
Nvidia introduced CUDA in 2006 as a parallel-computing platform and programming model. It allows software developers to use Nvidia graphics-processing units for tasks beyond graphics, including scientific calculations, machine learning, and data analysis.
The platform helped Nvidia’s hardware become part of a broader software ecosystem. Researchers and companies could adapt programs to run on thousands of GPU cores simultaneously, which is useful for workloads that can be divided into many smaller calculations.
CUDA is not itself a market capitalization measure, but it is an important part of the business story behind Nvidia’s rise among the world’s most valuable companies. The combination of specialized chips, developer tools, and data-center demand made Nvidia more than a conventional graphics-card manufacturer.