The Thinking Machine

Jensen Huang, Nvidia, and the World's Most Coveted Microchip

By: Stephen Witt

Narrated by: Stephen Witt

“A lively biography. . . . The story of how Nvidia became the hottest investment on Wall Street and a household name is fascinating.”—Katie Notopoulos, The New York Times Book Review

“Framed as a biography of Jensen Huang, the only CEO Nvidia has ever had, the book is also something more interesting and revealing: a window onto the intellectual, cultural, and economic ecosystem that has led to the emergence of superpowerful AI.”—James Surowiecki, The Atlantic

“Stephen Witt’s deep reporting shines through every page of The Thinking Machine. The result is a page-turning biography of perhaps the most consequential CEO and company in the world.”—David Epstein, New York Times bestselling author of Range

Nvidia is as valuable as Apple and Microsoft. It has shaped the world as we know it. But its story is little known. This is the definitive story of the greatest technology company of our times.

In June of 2024, thirty-one years after its founding in a Denny’s restaurant, Nvidia became the most valuable corporation on Earth. The Thinking Machine is the astonishing story of how a designer of video game equipment conquered the market for AI hardware, and in the process re-invented the computer.

Essential to Nvidia’s meteoric success is its visionary CEO Jensen Huang, who more than a decade ago, on the basis of a few promising scientific results, bet his entire company on AI. Through unprecedented access to Huang, his friends, his investors, and his employees, Witt documents for the first time the company’s epic rise and its single-minded and ferocious leader, now one of Silicon Valley’s most influential figures.

The Thinking Machine is the story of how Nvidia evolved to supplying hundred-million-dollar supercomputers. It is the story of a determined entrepreneur who defied Wall Street to push his radical vision for computing, becoming one of the wealthiest men alive. It is the story of a revolution in computer architecture, and the small group of renegade engineers who made it happen. And it’s the story of our awesome and terrifying AI future, which Huang has billed as the ‘next industrial revolution,’ as a new kind of microchip unlocks hyper-realistic avatars, autonomous robots, self-driving cars, and new movies, art, and books, generated on command.

This is the story of the company that is inventing the future.

©2025 Stephen Witt (P)2025 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“A fun and well-informed look at its subject matter. There should be more books on one of the world’s most valuable companies, and yes here supply is elastic.” —Tyler Cowen, Marginal Revolution

“The Thinking Machine is a delicious account of how a scrawny Taiwanese immigrant, with an intense commitment to reason, loyalty to people, and a Stakhanovite work ethic, built the engine of the AI revolution.” —Michael Moritz, former Chairman, Sequoia Capital

“Witt's book delves into not just what Nvidians have done but how they think — or don't think — about what their inventions will bring in the grander scheme of history.” —Emma Cosgrove, Business Insider

So good, it read like a movie, I bet it becomes one.

This book and Jensen's unpredictable journey are fascinating. Jensen, Nvidia and the future of AI will continue to evolve, but the story with all the collateral interviews of how it all came to be is riveting--even if you don't work in tech.

However, if you DO work in tech, AND happened to have ever had the life distorting opportunity of working with an unconventional, non linear, tech founder who is relentlessly vision driven and seemingly oblivious to common rationale or life events that are not obsessively committed to that vision, then you may find this book validating and inspiring.

The author's decision to read it himself was spot on. I could see the interviews in my mind's eye because of his subtle inflections and the details he infused in every chapter.

The book also offers insight into the technology that is radically altering our existence. We've all heard or thought about the concerns of AI, but I thought Jensen's view on these concerns, and that he isn't a scifi guy, well, it was really refreshing :)

Insightful, inspired, moving MUST READ, with ample sparks of wisdom!

Nothing really, would be great with even more, - an extended edition. But I could hope for a follow up in a year or two! Maybe Jensen has updated his perspective as well. The description of Jensens angry dismissal of concerns over the AI future at the end might be the seed of the brilliant Jensen taking another round of reflection. Maybe starting with, why did I actually yell at that biography author? Why am I getting these annoying questions again and again? What are we actually doing at NVIDIA and why are we doing it?

My choice for the FT book of the year 2025.

The book offers a compelling exploration of Nvidia’s transformation from a niche graphics card producer to a central force in the AI revolution. Through meticulous reporting and narrative flair, Witt chronicles how CEO Jensen Huang’s visionary leadership and strategic pivots propelled the company to the forefront of technological innovation.

From the days of early 3d graphics in the early 80’s to today’s crazy AI technology.

Takes a very complicated concepts and makes them easily digestible. A close look at a very driven and lucky man. Intelligence was only one piece of the puzzle. Well worth the time.

A wonderful book!

I read a lot of books but "The Thinking Machine" by Stephen Witt is the best one I've read in years. It's a biography of nVidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang but it's more than that, it's a concise history of Artificial Intelligence and of a company whose shares have increased in value by 300,000% since it went public in 1999. I highly recommend it.

Generational talent

The pride of some Appalachian reform school, Jensen is the paper clip optimizer of chips. Amazing powers to get unthinkable performance out of chips AND humans. Not by commanding loyalty but by earning it.

A great story of legendary leadership by a visionary

This book is also a very useful primer into the whole AI development journey, from the backrooms of ‘outlier’ scientists to becoming a mainstream element of the global economy and human progress.

A page turner Omit the last chapter

The story from video game chips to a thinking machine comes to life through Jensen Hwang’ s brilliant determination .

Amazing book

A must read for everyone interested in the future of technology and humanity. The thinking machine

Good overview

I liked the part on Jellyfish and Fredrik Dahl, it is often passed over in favor of the later high profile "Go" moment. I had the pleasure of playing against one of the earliest prototypes of Jellyfish, beating it twice with my stupid moves. I was such a poor (unorthodox) player that the program didn't get it 😁.

I still think "The Nvidia way" is a slightly beyter listen.