Nvidia launched the GeForce 256 in 1999 and became a leading designer of graphics processors.
Founded in 1993, Nvidia first built its reputation around graphics processing units, or GPUs, used in personal computers and video games. The GeForce 256 was marketed as the world’s first GPU, a term Nvidia used to describe a chip that integrated graphics transformation and lighting capabilities.
Nvidia later expanded beyond gaming. Its CUDA platform enabled developers to use GPUs for general-purpose parallel computing, helping the company become central to scientific computing, artificial intelligence, and data-center workloads. Demand for AI accelerators made Nvidia one of the most valuable publicly traded companies.
Nvidia is a chip designer rather than a traditional manufacturer with large fabrication plants of its own. It relies heavily on contract foundries to produce its chips. That distinction separates Nvidia from integrated manufacturers such as Intel and from foundries such as TSMC.