A Reflection on NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang’s Commencement Address at National Taiwan University

Recently, the 2023 graduating class of the National Taiwan University (NTU) had the privilege of receiving a commencement address from Jensen Huang, the CEO of NVIDIA, a powerhouse in the realm of computer graphics and AI. Drawing from his personal and professional journey, Huang delivered a stirring and powerful speech that left a lasting impact, touching upon themes of innovation, technological evolution, resilience, humility, and strategic retreat.

As he began his speech, Huang gracefully acknowledged the achievement of the graduates and the profound joy of their families. He emphasised that their graduation was not only a pivotal moment in their lives but also the culmination of their parents' dreams. Huang’s candid and empathetic acknowledgement served as a reminder of the shared joy and collective efforts behind every milestone.

Huang's speech was deeply personal and connected to the roots of NTU. He reminisced about his first visit to NTU over a decade ago, when he had been invited by Dr. Chen to his computational physics lab. He recalled being shown a homemade supercomputer, assembled from NVIDIA GPUs, which marked a unique example of NVIDIA's transformative technology in action.

This memory served as a cornerstone for Huang to outline NVIDIA's core purpose: facilitating groundbreaking work for the "Einsteins and Da Vincis" of our time. The anecdote underscored NVIDIA's commitment to powering innovation and progress, embodying the company's purpose in its truest sense.

Next, Huang took a trip down the memory lane, comparing the world at the time of his graduation from Oregon State University in 1984 to the present. He pointed out the substantial evolution in technology, noting that back in the day, the concepts of mobile phones, flat screen TVs, and cable television were non-existent. In contrast, he highlighted the intricate digital network that surrounds us today, where we are perpetually connected and immersed in a digital world that parallels our physical reality.

In this context, Huang emphasised the transformative potential of AI, which NVIDIA played a key role in creating. Predicting AI’s profound impact on industries and job markets, he asserted that the technology would revolutionise the way we live and work. He also urged the graduating class to seize the opportunities that AI presents, thereby staying ahead of the curve in this fast-paced world.

From there, Huang segued into a detailed recounting of three pivotal moments in NVIDIA's history, each serving as a testament to the company's resilience, innovation, and strategic prowess.

The first story focused on NVIDIA's early days, when the company confronted failure head-on during a project for SEGA. Huang emphasised that admitting their mistake and seeking assistance was a defining moment for the company. By choosing humility and transparency over denial, NVIDIA was able to salvage the situation and turn a potential failure into an opportunity.

In the second story, Huang recounted NVIDIA's journey with their CUDA GPU Accelerated Computing project. Despite facing skepticism and substantial financial challenges, NVIDIA firmly held onto their vision of accelerated computing. Their perseverance paid off when AI researchers discovered CUDA in 2012, triggering a significant breakthrough in AI technology. Huang underlined that this journey had forged NVIDIA's corporate character and demonstrated the necessity to endure pain and suffering to realize a grand vision.

The third story revolved around NVIDIA's strategic decision to retreat from the mobile chip market to focus on their core mission. This retreat allowed NVIDIA to refocus its resources, resulting in the creation of a new market in robotics. By sharing this experience, Huang underscored the importance of making difficult decisions and how strategic retreat, while tough, can lead to significant innovation and success.

Closing his address, Huang invited the graduates to join the ongoing AI revolution and make the most of the opportunities of the present and future. He encouraged them to "run, not walk" towards their dreams, infusing a sense of urgency and commitment.

Huang's stirring address ended with three critical pieces of advice for the new graduates: the humility to confront failure, the endurance to bear pain for their dreams, and the wisdom to strategically retreat when necessary. Each piece of advice drew from NVIDIA's journey, emphasizing the transformative potential of technology and the vast opportunities that await in the realms of AI and beyond.

Huang’s words served as a testament to the potential of human innovation and perseverance. The stories he shared from NVIDIA's history, along with his invaluable advice, painted an inspiring picture for the graduating class, setting the stage for them to embark on their own journeys into the fast-paced world of technology and AI.

Full video of the commencement speech below.