Nvidia’s CEO, Jensen Huang, was lauded in Taiwan as the company surged in value and surpassed Apple, with his keynote speech at Computex 2024 highlighting Taiwan’s pivotal role in AI technology development. The event saw tech leaders emphasising the importance of Taiwan in the global tech sector amidst geopolitical tensions and calls for a diversified supply chain.
Jensen Huang Celebrated in Taiwan as Nvidia Soars in Value
Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, delivered a keynote speech in Taipei on June 2, 2024, ahead of Computex 2024. Nvidia recently surpassed Apple to become America’s second most valuable company, highlighting Huang’s rise to prominence.
Huang, donning his signature black leather jacket, addressed a packed stadium, emphasizing Taiwan’s crucial role in AI technology development. He referred to Taiwan as “the unsung hero” and displayed a graphic of nearly 100 Taiwanese suppliers contributing to Nvidia’s success.
During his visit, Huang participated in various public events, attracting significant media attention termed “Jensanity” by local outlets. Other tech leaders like Lisa Su of AMD, Pat Gelsinger of Intel, and Cristiano Amon of Qualcomm also attended Computex, signifying Taiwan’s growing influence in the tech sector.
Computex, originally a low-key sourcing fair, has gained prominence since the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022 spurred demand for advanced AI chips. Neither Nvidia nor AMD manufactures their chips, relying instead on Taiwan’s TSMC for production.
Huang’s comments about Taiwan being one of the “most important countries in the world” stirred conversations on Chinese social media, with Beijing notably silent on the matter. This aligns with ongoing geopolitical tensions and US export restrictions on AI chips to China.
Despite recent military exercises by China around Taiwan, the CEOs at Computex focused on maintaining robust ties with Taiwanese manufacturers. Huang reaffirmed Nvidia’s commitment to Taiwan, while Gelsinger from Intel highlighted the need for a more balanced global supply chain.
The geopolitical landscape and the US Chips and Science Act of 2022, aimed at boosting domestic chip production, underscore the strategic importance of semiconductor manufacturing. The CEOs acknowledged Taiwan’s critical role while also supporting a diversified supply chain for resilience.
