AI CHIP STARTUP
Who founded Nvidia? In 1993, three engineers got together at America's iconic Denny's diner and changed the course of tech history
Nvidia was established in 1993 by Jensen Huang, Chris Malachowsky, and Curtis Priem to improve computer graphics. The company evolved from a focus on graphics chips to becoming a leader in artificial intelligence technology. Jensen Huang has resigned as CEO after leading the company for 33 years, impacting its direction and identity. Colette Kress has been appointed interim CEO while searching for a permanent successor.
Jensen Huang quits as CEO of Nvidia: He was once caught getting cosy with Nvidia VP on camera. Who is Kimberly Powell, the second woman he has been linked with?
Nvidia founder Jensen Huang resigned as CEO on Thursday following reports of an affair with Kimberly Powell, the company’s vice president of healthcare. This follows reports that the billionaire was involved in an affair with Alice Huang, a Chinese executive who U.S. intelligence asserted was a spy for Beijing.
Before Nvidia, Kimberly Powell was an engineering intern in radiology tech; How she built an 18-year career in AI healthcare, now in the spotlight after Jensen Huang report
Kimberly Powell did not begin her career in AI drug discovery. She started as an engineering intern, working with radiologists and medical imaging technology. That experience eventually brought her to Nvidia, where she spent 18 years building its healthcare business. Now, a report about her alleged relationship with Jensen Huang has put her in the headlines. But how did she go from working in radiology to becoming one of Nvidia's senior executives?
China is the biggest loser from Jensen Huang’s downfall
Jensen Huang’s reported links to a suspected Chinese spy and concerns over Nvidia chips reaching Chinese companies could trigger tighter US export controls, putting further pressure on China’s AI industry.
Nvidia working with outside firm to identify CEO candidates
The board is weighing the idea of naming a temporary chief while searching for a permanent one, the person said, asking not to be identified because the information isn’t public.
Qcomm’s Diwali boost; Energy startups attract funds
Happy Wednesday! Quick commerce powered a strong festive season for D2C brands. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
- Go To Page 1
Bigger cheques, fewer winners in India’s AI boom
Indian AI startups raised $1.6 billion in funding during the first nine months of 2026. While AI infrastructure attracted significant investments, application startups faced declining funding and challenges in securing customers. Large transactions constituted most of the total funding, highlighting a disparity in investment distribution.
Jensen Huang is bigger than Nvidia — and it’s a problem
Nvidia has initiated an investigation regarding CEO Jensen Huang after acknowledgment of a romantic involvement with a Chinese spy. This revelation has raised questions about the company's future stability and ongoing projects. Investors are apprehensive about key-person risk due to Huang's significant influence on Nvidia’s operations and strategy.
How China gets the Nvidia chips it needs to develop AI
Nvidia's dominance in the global AI chip market has come under scrutiny as US export restrictions fail to fully prevent China from accessing advanced processors. Chinese firms are reportedly obtaining Nvidia chips through smuggling and overseas data centres, while domestic players such as Huawei race to develop competitive alternatives.
Anthropic's IPO: A close look at AI frontrunner's rapid growth, spiraling costs
Anthropic aims to raise up to $64.4 billion in an upcoming IPO, representing a significant market debut. The company plans a valuation of up to $1.02 trillion, showcasing its ambitions in AI. Founded by former OpenAI researchers, Anthropic's revenue has rapidly surged with enterprise adoption of its AI models. While facing substantial operating losses, the company remains committed to its substantial infrastructure investments.
Moonshot AI rents Nvidia’s top AI chips in China, documents show
Documents indicate that Moonshot AI possibly accessed advanced Nvidia chips despite US export restrictions and related investigations. The servers were reportedly rented from Super Micro Computer Inc. with significant financial backing from Lingmeixin Technology Co.
Quantum could solve AI energy drain, says tech founder
Quantum computers could curb the vast energy demands of artificial intelligence data centres with their ability to run complex calculations, one of the tech's pioneers told AFP. Australian startup Diraq is conducting the first field test worldwide putting a small quantum computer based on a silicon chip in a commercial data centre in Sydney. Diraq's computer installed in Equinix's Sydney data centre has eight quantum bits, or qubits, on a silicon chip.
Nvidia controversy stokes export scrutiny risks for South Korean chipmakers
Samsung Electronics and SK hynix could experience greater export compliance challenges due to Nvidia's scrutiny over AI chips. US authorities have not announced new regulations yet, but potential measures might emerge. Chief Executive Jensen Huang's personal matters have spurred investigations into Nvidia's business dealings. A closed-door inquiry is scheduled to review security frameworks and contacts with foreign entities.
I was unfaithful to my wife: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang admits secret affair with Chinese spy Alice Huang; all you need to know about the controversy
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang admitted to having an extramarital relationship with a business executive. Reports suggest that the executive may have connections to Chinese espionage activities. Nvidia's board has initiated an independent investigation to examine these allegations thoroughly. US lawmakers have requested a briefing to understand potential national security issues related to the case. Huang remains the CEO, while the investigation seeks to clarify any risks to the company.
Activists breach Microsoft data centre construction site as protests spread in Europe
Activist groups have announced actions in 16 countries on Friday and Saturday, according to the "Stop Dirty Data Centres" coalition, which is rallying environmental groups and digital rights campaigns behind calls to pause large-scale construction.
Japan's Nikkei slumps more than 5% as market rout deepens on AI worries
Japan's Nikkei share average plummeted over 5% amid escalating market fears tied to regulatory scrutiny and a slowdown in artificial intelligence advancements. This drop followed the Democratic wins in the US midterm elections, sparking substantial sell-offs in traditional tech stocks. Both S&P 500 and Nasdaq indices recorded significant losses in earlier sessions, signaling a prevailing cautious mood in the global tech stock landscape.
AMD forecasts quarterly revenue above estimates as data-center growth accelerates
The company, which nearly doubled its data-center revenue in the third quarter, is benefiting as a shift in AI workloads toward running models in real-world applications drives demand for its graphics processing units and central processors. This has enabled AMD to capture market share from rival Intel, which last week forecast quarterly revenue well below estimates and triggered a global selloff in chip stocks.
AMD's OpenAI, Meta chip deals trigger $1 billion quarterly charge
AMD in February agreed to sell up to $60 billion worth of AI chips to Meta over five years, giving the Facebook owner warrants that could let it buy as much as 10% of the chip firm if it meets certain milestones. The deal followed a similar agreement with OpenAI last year, giving the startup the option to buy up to roughly 10% of the chipmaker.
AMD forecasts fourth-quarter revenue above estimates on strong AI chip demand
Advanced Micro Devices estimates its fourth-quarter revenue will hit about $17 billion, driven primarily by robust demand for AI chips. Although the company's forecast for adjusted gross margin stands at 55%, it falls slightly short of analyst expectations. A remarkable 97% year-on-year increase in data-centre revenue showcases AMD's growth. However, the company currently faces challenges in sourcing high-bandwidth memory, essential for its AI processors.
AMD's OpenAI, Meta chip deals trigger $1 billion quarterly charge
AMD in February agreed to sell up to $60 billion worth of AI chips to Meta over five years, giving the Facebook owner warrants that could let it buy as much as 10% of the chip firm if it meets certain milestones. The deal followed a similar agreement with OpenAI last year, giving the startup the option to buy up to roughly 10% of the chipmaker.
Chip startup Agrani Labs looks to raise $108 million from Peak XV, Google, Samsung
Peak XV Partners is leading the round and is expected to contribute more than half of the total funding. Google, HCL Tech, Samsung Ventures and Stargazer, an investment firm set up by Groww's founders, are also expected to participate, the people cited above said.
Apple’s robust India quarter; Giva’s $100 million funding
Apple posted record sales in India in the September quarter. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.
China's robot makers have mastered the moves. Now comes the race for brains
The shift is fuelling an investment boom in embodied AI, a field focused on software that allows robots to understand their surroundings, learn unfamiliar tasks and adapt without having to be programmed for every job.
In 2026, Sonya Jin and Aadi Nashikkar-led Phinity Labs raised $5.2 million to let AI agents design computer chips from text prompts
Phinity Labs has raised $5.2 million to develop AI agents that can design computer chips from text prompts. Founders Sonya Jin and Aadi Nashikkar want the technology to explore chip architectures beyond conventional engineering methods. Backed by Uncork Capital, Moxxie and investors including Jeff Dean, the startup plans to build a system that tests designs using physical feedback and improves them before manufacturing.
Nvidia's web of AI bets: smart strategy or bubble risk?
Nvidia's $3 billion investment in Meta's share sale, announced Tuesday, is the latest addition to a portfolio of stakes, loans and guarantees that has made the chip giant what some analysts describe as the central bank of the artificial intelligence boom. Nvidia also has around $36 billion in cloud backstops and a guarantee of up to $105 billion linked to an OpenAI data center, according to US media.
China's new export curbs draw a line around its AI crown jewels
The draft rules, released on October 16, distinguish between foreign customers using Chinese AI services and foreign companies obtaining the models, data or expertise needed to operate or reproduce them independently.
US DOJ is inquiring about Nvidia's purchase of Hugging Face
The Justice Department's recent questioning covers Nvidia's acquisitions, investments, sales practices, and whether the chip designer has exerted pressure on its customers, the two people said.
Neocloud firm Argentum AI in talks for $5 billion AI chip financing, sources say
One of the people said the money would pay for additional chips for the data center Argentum secured in Poland with DL Invest Group, and that the debt is meant for chips leased to customers that do not have investment-grade ratings.
Chip startup Nova Spectral AI raises Rs 21 crore to build low-cost image sensors
Founded by IIT Kanpur alumni Anish Priyadarshi and Sanjeev Kumar, the startup is developing a short-wave infrared (SWIR) sensor that can help cameras capture images in low light and through smoke, haze, and fog. It aims to make these sensors up to 100 times cheaper than existing technology, opening up potential applications in defence, robotics, cars, and smartphones, the founder said.
Load More
