Nvidia designed the CUDA parallel-computing platform, a technology that helped drive its rise in market value.
Nvidia introduced CUDA in 2006 as a platform and programming model for using graphics processing units for general-purpose computing. It allowed developers to write software that could use Nvidia GPUs for highly parallel workloads beyond traditional graphics. CUDA became important in scientific computing, machine learning, and artificial-intelligence development.
The platform gave Nvidia a software ecosystem alongside its hardware. Developers, researchers, and cloud providers built tools around CUDA, creating switching costs and supporting demand for Nvidia’s data-center products. Nvidia was founded in 1993 and first became known for graphics chips used in personal computers and games. Its later AI expansion made it one of the world’s largest companies by market capitalization.