Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) founder Morris Chang revealed in his recently published biography that he attempted to recruit Nvidia’s founder and CEO Jensen Huang back in 2013.
Nvidia is now considered one of the biggest and most valuable tech companies thanks to its prominent role in fueling the artificial intelligence boom with its AI chips and software. Huang is a driving force behind that success, steering the company away from gaming and multimedia to AI sectors.
However, in 2013, Nvidia was still lagging behind its rivals and wasn’t even in the top 10 biggest chipmakers in the world. Meanwhile, TSMC firmly positioned itself as one of the leaders in the semiconductor industry.
Around that time, Chang was getting to retire and was looking for a successor in the position of TSMC’s CEO. He recognized Huang’s “professional experience and semiconductor expertise” and approached him with an offer for the job.
Despite an attractive offer, Huang didn’t even take time to consider it and rejected it on the spot, saying he “already has a job.” Chang tried once again several weeks later but received the same response.
“Jensen’s response to me was honest: He ‘already had a job!’ That job was to elevate Nvidia to what it is today, 11 years later,” Chang added.