In the era of artificial intelligence, Nvidia appears as an undisputed hegemon, a technological colossus whose success seems as abrupt as inevitable. However, the book ‘Nvidia. The road to success. How Jensen Huang created a technological giant”published in Poland by the publishing home Clear , breaks up with this simplified image. The author, Tae Kim, draws a fascinating saga about more than 3 decades of fighting, which began not in a sterile laboratory, but at a sticky table in a inexpensive Denny’s bar.
Kim's communicative sucks like the best business thriller. Its center is Jensen Huang, the company's founder and CEO, sported not as a cool strategist, but as a man driven by almost panicful fear of failure and stagnation. This obsession, as the author convinces, has its origin in real trauma. The book does not spare the reader details of the disastrous failures of the company's first products – NV1 and NV2 chips – which almost caused it to go bankrupt. It was these near-death experiences that forged the ruthless culture of work in Nvidia and taught her that in order to survive, 1 must constantly anticipate the future. From this fear besides 1 of the boldest establishments in business past was born: putting everything on artificial intelligence, a decade before the planet even understood its potential.
However, even though reading is exciting, reading does not leave us with 1 embarrassing question. Are we reading a actual communicative or a carefully directed legend? The top strength of the book – the unprecedented access of the author to Jensen Huang and his immediate surroundings – proves to be her top weakness. The story, although rich in detail, is filtered by the position of the hero himself. At times it resembles not an nonsubjective analysis, but a monument erected in honor of the president.
The most clear evidence of this bias is what the author decided to stay silent. Although the book describes the early defeats that fit perfectly with the communicative about building resilience, it is vain to look for a deeper analysis of more contemporary faults or strategical errors. The reader has the impression that uncomfortable facts that might disturb the image of the infallible visionary were discreetly swept under the carpet.
Moreover, the book, glorifying success, seems to neglect to see its human cost. Huang is portrayed as a man with “manic working habits” and his management kind is simply a direct transfer of this obsession to the full organization. Nvidia culture requires employees to "almost superhuman effort and intellectual resilience". It's an environment where there's quite a few pressure, and Huang doesn't hesitate to publically embarrass an worker if he thinks he's slowing down the company. Although this leads to incredible efficiency, the book treats this aspect superficially, presenting it primarily as an component building the company's size alternatively than as a possibly toxic working environment.
Despite these serious allegations, “Nvidia. The way to success” is inactive a fascinating and crucial reading. Above all, it offers invaluable insights in the way of reasoning of the man who is present giving out cards in the planet of technology. It is besides a master lesson in long-term strategy, showing how stubborn and willing to take risks can specify the full industry. Finally, it's just a mandatory position for anyone who wants to realize the DNA of a company that shapes our future in specified a fundamental way.
