What you need to know about Jensen Huang, the AI visionary in a leather jacket
Mr Jensen Huang convinced US President Donald Trump to lift restrictions on certain GPU exports to China.
NEW YORK - Unknown to the general public just three years ago, Mr Jensen Huang is now one of the most powerful entrepreneurs in the world as head of chip giant Nvidia.
The unassuming 62-year-old draws stadium crowds of more than 10,000 people as his company's products push the boundaries of artificial intelligence (AI).
Chips designed by Nvidia, known as graphics cards or graphics processing units (GPUs), are essential in developing the generative AI powering technology like ChatGPT.
Big tech's insatiable appetite for Nvidia's GPUs, which sell for tens of thousands of dollars each, has catapulted the
California chipmaker beyond
US
$4 trillion
(S$5.1 trillion)
in market valuation, the first company ever to surpass that mark.
Nvidia's meteoric rise has boosted Mr Huang's personal fortune to US$150 billion – making him one of the world's richest people – thanks to the roughly 3.5 per cent stake he holds in the company he founded three decades ago with two friends in a Silicon Valley diner.
In a clear demonstration of his clout, he recently convinced US President Donald Trump to lift restrictions on certain GPU exports to China, despite the fact that China is locked in a battle with the United States for AI supremacy.
'That was brilliantly done,' said Dr Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, a governance professor at Yale University.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore 1 in 3 vapes here laced with etomidate; MOH working with MHA to list it as illegal drug: Ong Ye Kung
Singapore HSA extends hotline hours, launches new platform to report vaping offences
Singapore Tampines regional centre set to get more homes, offices and public amenities
Multimedia How to make the most out of small homes in Singapore
World Diplomats dismissed: Inside the overhaul reshaping Trump's foreign policy
Life US tech CEO Andy Byron resigns after viral Coldplay 'kiss cam' video
Opinion I thought I was a 'chill' parent. Then came P1 registration
Singapore 'God and government are the only things beyond our control,' says Trip.com Group CEO
Mr Huang was able to explain to Mr Trump that 'having the world using a US tech platform as the core protocol is definitely in the interest of this country' and will not help the Chinese military, Prof Sonnenfeld said.
Early life
Born in Taipei in 1963, Mr Jensen Huang (originally named Jen-Hsun) embodies the American success story. At nine years old, he was sent with his brother to boarding school in small-town Kentucky.
His uncle recommended the school to his Taiwanese parents believing it to be a prestigious institution, when it was actually a school for troubled youth.
Too young to be a student, Mr Huang boarded there but attended a nearby public school alongside the children of tobacco farmers. With his poor English, he was bullied and forced to clean toilets – a two-year ordeal that transformed him.
'We worked really hard, we studied really hard, and the kids were really tough,' he recounted in an interview with US broadcaster NPR.
But 'the ending of the story is, I loved the time I was there,' Mr Huang said.
Leather jacket and tattoo
Brought home by his parents, who had by then settled in the north-western US state of Oregon, he graduated from university at just 20 and joined Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), then LSI Logic, to design chips – his passion.
But he wanted to go further and founded Nvidia in 1993 to 'solve problems that normal computers can't,' using semiconductors powerful enough to handle 3D graphics, as he explained on the 'No Priors' podcast.
Nvidia created the first GPU in 1999, riding the intersection of video games, data centres, cloud computing, and now, generative AI.
Always dressed in a black T-shirt and leather jacket, Mr Huang sports an Nvidia logo tattoo and has a taste for sports cars.
But it is his relentless optimism, low-key personality and lack of political alignment that sets him apart from the likes of Mr Elon Musk and Mr Mark Zuckerberg.
Unlike them, Mr Huang was notably absent from Mr Trump's inauguration ceremony.
'He backpedals his own aura and let's the star be the technology rather than himself,' observed Prof Sonnenfeld, who believes Mr Huang may be 'the most respected of all today's tech titans'.
One former high-ranking Nvidia employee described him to AFP as 'the most driven person' he had ever met.
Street food
On visits to his native Taiwan, Mr Huang is treated like a megastar, with fans crowding him for autographs and selfies as journalists follow him to the barber shop and his favourite night market.
'He has created the phenomena because of his personal charm,' noted Mr Wayne Lin of Witology Market Trend Research Institute.
'A person like him must be very busy and his schedule should be full every day meeting big bosses. But he remembers to eat street food when he comes to Taiwan,' he said, calling Mr Huang as being 'unusually friendly'.
Nvidia is a tight ship and takes great care to project a drama-free image of Mr Huang.
But the former high-ranking employee painted a more nuanced picture, describing a 'very paradoxical' individual who is fiercely protective of his employees but also capable, within Nvidia's executive circle, of 'ripping people to shreds' over major mistakes or poor choices. AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
India will buy Russian oil despite Trump's threats, NYT reports
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: A view shows oil pump jacks outside Almetyevsk, in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia July 14, 2025. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo Indian officials have said they would keep purchasing oil from Russia despite the threat of penalties that U.S. President Donald Trump said he would impose, the New York Times reported on Saturday. Reuters could not immediately verify the report. The White House, India's Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Trump last month indicated in a Truth Social post that India would face additional penalties for purchase of Russian arms and oil. However, he later said that he did not care what India does with Russia. On Friday, Trump told reporters that he had heard that India would no longer be buying oil from Russia. Two senior Indian officials said there had been no change in policy, according to the NYT report, which added that one official said the government had "not given any direction to oil companies" to cut back imports from Russia. Reuters had earlier reported that Indian state refiners stopped buying Russian oil in the past week as discounts narrowed in July. On July 14, Trump threatened 100% tariffs on countries that buy Russian oil unless Moscow reaches a major peace deal with Ukraine. Russia is the top supplier to India, responsible for about 35% of India's overall supplies. REUTERS
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
New S'pore jobs portal launched for North West District residents looking for work near home
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The portal was launched on Aug 2 at the SkillsFuture Festival @ North West at Causeway Point in Woodlands. SINGAPORE – Job seekers in Singapore's northwest looking to work near their home can now find opportunities more easily, with the launch of a new online portal which curates jobs in the North West District. The district comprises Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC, Nee Soon GRC, Sembawang GRC and Bukit Panjang SMC. The Jobs Anywhere @ North West portal, by NTUC's Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) and FindSGJobs, currently has about 10,000 job vacancies. Jobs on offer include those at heartland merchants, such as hairdressers, and at hawker stalls, for stall assistants. The portal was launched on Aug 2 at the SkillsFuture Festival @ North West at Causeway Point in Woodlands. Mr Alex Yam, the mayor of North West District, said the jobs portal was developed in response to feedback from residents over the years. 'We understand that many residents face challenges finding flexible and part-time work opportunities near home, due to caregiving duties or other circumstances,' said Mr Yam, who is also an MP for Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC. He hopes the portal will help such residents find suitable jobs at heartland merchants. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Opening of Woodlands Health has eased load on KTPH, sets standard for future hospitals: Ong Ye Kung Singapore New vehicular bridge connecting Punggol Central and Seletar Link to open on Aug 3 Business Property 'decoupling' illegal if done solely to avoid taxes: High Court Singapore HSA investigating teen who was observed to be allegedly vaping in MRT train Asia KTM plans new passenger rail service in Johor Bahru to manage higher footfall expected from RTS Singapore Tengah facility with over 40 animal shelters, businesses hit by ticks Singapore 60 years of building Singapore One such merchant is Mr Lim Kian Hong who runs Two Herbs, a herbal scalp treatment business. It has seven outlets, including one at Block 166 Woodlands Street 13. He typically advertises job vacancies by sticking job ads in his shop window. He said he has found it difficult to find Singaporeans to fill vacancies even though he offers flexible work arrangements. He decided to list the vacancy on the new jobs portal after being approached by Community Development Council staff. 'Hopefully more people will be coming in to interview for the job,' he said. He is hiring hair therapists, to help with tasks such as hair washing. The portal lists both full-time job opportunities and flexible 'microjobs' which typically refer to short-term or temporary work. A separate jobs portal, called the Heartland Job Portal, was launched in August 2024 for those looking to work near their home, though this portal lists job vacancies islandwide. Speaking at the launch of the portal, Mr Yam also acknowledged that the job landscape has become increasingly competitive, especially for the youth. 'Beyond securing employment, our youths continue to face significant stress in their search for fulfilling careers,' Mr Yam said. Mr Alex Yam, the mayor of North West District, said the jobs portal was developed in response to feedback from residents over the years. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO Beyond job matching, the platform offers career guidance and employment resources, Mr Yam said. This is where youths can find 'the right advice and right upskilling opportunities as well', he said. Ten training providers, including NTUC Learning Hub, James Cook Institute and Republic Polytechnic had booths at the festival, highlighting courses in the digital, green and care sectors. The care sector includes social services, early childhood, healthcare and community care. Ms Kameeni Mehta, 56, visited the event to learn more about artificial intelligence courses on offer. She left having signed up for two AI courses held over the weekends, so she will not have to take time off from her job at an insurance company. She said she was keen to learn a new skill, and picked AI to 'keep abreast with changes'. 'At a certain age, you just can't be complacent', said the Woodlands resident. 'AI is keeping everybody on our toes, and it's fascinating.' The SkillsFuture Festival @ North West is being held at Causeway Point on Aug 2 and 3.
Straits Times
4 hours ago
- Straits Times
More purring, more buying: Why bookstores showcase their pets
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox A cat named Hank at the Literary Cat Co. in Pittsburg, Kan. Hank is known as the regional manager of the Literary Cat Co. UNITED STATES – Wander into Wild Rumpus Books in Minneapolis and you might miss the tawny cat napping in the window, spine pressed against the sunniest corner of the sill. Venture deeper into the cosy warren of picture and chapter books and you will begin to detect a theme, if not a whiff, of birdseed. That lazy feline known as Booker T. Jones turns out to be one of many beasts on the premises. Dave is a 27-year-old cockatiel who looks as if he applied too much coral rouge. Mo, a 26-year-old Barbary dove, roosts peacefully in a cage atop the sale shelf. There is also Newbery and Caldecott, a pair of gentle chinchillas; the Stinky Cheese Man, who, like all crested geckos, licks his own eyeballs; and Eartha Kitt, a jet-black Manx who politely recoiled from a visitor's hand while curled, cinnamon bun-style, in a mail bin. And, finally, there are 10 fish in a tank in the bathroom, all named for the children's book illustrators Mac Barnett and Shawn Harris. Their successors will be too, according to bookstore tradition. A menagerie like this has been a hallmark of Wild Rumpus since the store opened in 1992. When the original owner sold the business to four employees in 2024, the critters were part of the deal. 'They're the No. 1 draw,' said Ms Anna Hersh, a co-owner and animal care coordinator who visited the brood daily during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown. 'We get a whole bunch of readers, but people really come to see the animals.' Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore New vehicular bridge connecting Punggol Central and Seletar Link to open on Aug 3 Singapore Tengah facility with over 40 animal shelters, businesses hit by ticks Business Property 'decoupling' illegal if done solely to avoid taxes: High Court Singapore HSA investigating teen who was observed to be allegedly vaping in MRT train Singapore 60 years of building Singapore Asia 'Every day, we think about how to upgrade': China's factories see rise in robot adoption Sport Spurs captain Son Heung-min says he is leaving the English Premier League club Life Tastemakers: Burnt-out serial entrepreneur cooks up $16m success with Lau Wang Claypot Delights Docile dogs and aloof cats have long been fixtures of independent bookstores, as ubiquitous as free bookmarks. For the most part, they serve as quiet mascots – steadfast and loyal, deigning to have their heads patted or ears scratched while humans tend to the business of words. A child pets Eartha Kitt, a jet-black Manx, at Wild Rumpus Books in Minneapolis. PHOTO: ERIC RUBY/NYTIMES Now, thanks to social media, many stores have put themselves on the map with the help of little creatures, including some unlikely stars (bearded dragon, anyone?). The pairing makes sense: Books and animals both provide joy, companionship and windows into other worlds. The former are, admittedly, a lot tidier. At Bear Pond Books in Montpelier, Vermont, a Russian desert tortoise named Veruca Salt lords over the children's room from his 1.2m tank on the second floor. Ms Claire Benedict and her husband inherited the turtle – previously presumed to be female – from a school librarian. The store hosts an annual birthday party for Veruca, who is around 35, with games, cake and stories. The Tortoise And The Hare is a favourite. Like many bashful creatures, Veruca found his 'voice' on Instagram, where he has more than 2,000 fans. It is hard to say whether animals affect sales, but they certainly bring in foot traffic. 'You have people coming in saying, 'I think there's a tortoise here who I follow,'' Ms Benedict said. Moo and Chip fraternise with young readers at Scattered Books in Chappaqua, New York. PHOTO: VINCENT ALBAN/NYTIMES At Scattered Books in Chappaqua, New York, three litter-trained bunnies – Moo, Chuck and Chip – have the run of the place when they are not feasting on farmers' market lettuce in their triple-decker mansion with a view of the great outdoors. The bunnies have their own basket of pre-chewed books, but that does not stop them from occasionally sinking their teeth into a mystery or romance. 'We don't have books on the bottom shelves,' said Ms Laura Schaefer, who opened Scattered Books in 2017. 'The rabbits lend a nice comedic atmosphere. They don't make any sounds, but they can communicate.' Rabbits on a bookshelf at Scattered Books. PHOTO: VINCENT ALBAN/NYTIMES In 2018, Moo climbed up former President Bill Clinton's leg while CBS was interviewing him about his collaboration with novelist James Patterson on The President Is Missing (2018). And at the end of a bunny-centric story hour, Ms Schaefer said: 'A non-verbal autistic child tapped on my leg and signed, 'Thank you.'' Ms Schaefer makes hiring decisions with Moo, Chuck and Chip in mind. 'People come in and they're like, 'I love to read.' I'm like, 'How are you with rabbits?'' Of course, it is not all rabbit-themed tea parties and clever hashtags (#bringcelery). Recently, Scattered Books bid farewell to its first rabbit, Acorn, who was 14. 'It's very hard to break news of a bunny's death to the community,' Ms Schaefer said. 'Staff was crying, kids were crying and leaving notes.' At the Literary Cat Co in Pittsburg, Kansas, readers have the opportunity to adopt a pet while they shop. The store partners a local rescue organisation, hosting about seven cats at a time, along with three permanent feline 'employees': Hank, the regional manager; Scarlett Toe'Hara, the assistant regional manager (she is polydactyl); and Mike Meowski, the assistant to the assistant regional manager. A cat named Scarlett Toe'Hara at the Literary Cat Co. PHOTO: DAVID ROBERT ELLIOTT/NYTIMES Ms Jennifer Mowdy, the store's owner, described each cat's role, personality and origin story with the air of a matriarch ticking off successful grandchildren. Speaking of the upper respiratory illness that cost Mike Meowski an eye, she sounded stoic. He was a kitten; she was there for him. They soldiered through. Ms Mowdy created a glass alcove for allergic customers – and to deter escapees – and a 'kitty conference room' (accessible by cat door) for litter boxes. With regular scooping, four air purifiers and daily mists of Mrs Meyer's room spray, she said the scent of the store is neutral to positive. In the past 1½ years , the Literary Cat Co has facilitated 50 adoptions. 'We've only had one cat that didn't work out,' Ms Mowdy said. 'Too much fight in her.' Kittens tend to wreak havoc. Ms Mowdy prefers a mature animal of the 'Don't call me, I'll call you' variety. Felines are welcome to scale shelves and interact with readers as they please, which is their way. 'They get to practise being a good house cat,' Ms Mowdy said. 'They get socialised.' Occasionally, the right cat finds the right reader's lap. The rest is destiny, with the rescue organisation handling logistics and the Literary Cat Co simply making the introduction. Dog lovers, never fear. Plenty of bookstores cater to the canine crowd, including Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee, where employees are welcome to bring their best friends to work. The current roster includes Miller, a French bulldog; Barnabus, a Cavalier King Charles spaniel; Winnie, a tiny hound mix; and Nemo, who is half Bichon and half poodle, according to novelist Ann Patchett, who owns the store. Her rules for shop dogs are simple: 'No barking. No biting. You have to like children and be patient, and you can't run out the front door.' While cats, birds, rabbits and lizards can be left alone overnight, dogs generally cannot, which makes them slightly more complicated as bookstore pets. But they can be excellent listeners; as Patchett pointed out, beginning readers feel comfortable testing their skills with a dog. The chinchilla brothers Newbery and Caldecott at Wild Rumpus Books in Minneapolis PHOTO: ERIC RUBY/NYTIMES Ms Hersh enjoys taking her Lhasa Apso, Penny, to Wild Rumpus, but she is leery of committing to an official shop dog. For now, she is happy with the book-to-animal ratio at her store, and the visitors who enjoy both. Booker T. Jones is an especially good cat to practise 'gentle' on, she said, although Wild Rumpus has a rule that patrons are not supposed to pick up the pets. Because it is impossible to predict the behaviour of children and animals, Ms Hersh added: 'We obviously have fun Band-Aids.' NYTIMES
