Before NVIDIA became a powerhouse in the field of artificial intelligence, Jensen Huang was just the founder of a startup company. At that time, he was struggling to get a Taiwanese chip manufacturer to return his calls.
In a video released on Wednesday with podcast host Lex Fridman, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang recalled how he initially got in touch with TSMC's founder, Terry Gou, the Taiwanese chip manufacturing giant.
That was in the late 1990s, when NVIDIA was looking for a manufacturer to produce its graphics chips. The capacity of wafer foundry production was limited, and some foundries required companies to grant them access to their technology in exchange for providing that production capacity.
Jensen Huang had heard of TSMC before. At that time, TSMC was far smaller than the chip manufacturing giant it is today, so he decided to take the initiative to get in touch.
He found the number of TSMC's US office in the telephone directory and dialed it; a recorded message was what answered the call.
Jensen Huang left his contact information and explained what NVIDIA is working on. He tried it several more times later.
"No one called me. No one returned my calls."Jensen Huang said.
In the end, he wrote a very long letter to Zhang Zhongmou.
After another long period of silence, Jensen Huang received an unexpected call one evening.
"I am TSMC's Morris Chang."Jensen Huang said that the other party said the following at that time.
Meanwhile, NVIDIA employees were playing video games nearby, laughing and shouting.
"Hey guys, be quiet. It's Zhang Zhongmou."Jensen Huang recalled saying to them at that time.
Jensen Huang said that Zhang Zhongmo's actual response made him very excited.
"Maybe we don't have to die after all."Jensen Huang said.
Terry Gou invited Jensen Huang to Taiwan, where the latter visited TSMC as well as its competitor UMC.
Jensen Huang said that both companies left a similarly deep impression on him, but he ultimately chose TSMC because during his conversation with Morris Chang, the latter emphasized integrity, corporate governance, and a long-term cooperative relationship.
“Jensen, if we cooperate, I assure you that we will give it our all for you.”Jensen Huang recalled that Zhang Zhongmo said this to him at that time.
For the entire next 30 years, they have been giving their all for us.Jensen Huang said.
Today, TSMC produces advanced AI chips for NVIDIA.
