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- Before Nvidia became an AI giant, Jensen Huang struggled to get TSMC to return his calls.
- He found TSMC in the Yellow Pages, but repeated calls went unanswered until he wrote to its founder.
- A call from Morris Chang led to a Taiwan visit and a chipmaking partnership that has lasted 30 years.
Before Nvidia became an AI powerhouse, Jensen Huang was a startup founder struggling to get a Taiwanese chipmaker to return his calls.
The Nvidia CEO recalled how he first connected with Morris Chang, the founder of Taiwanese chipmaking giant TSMC, in a video with podcaster Lex Fridman published on Wednesday.
It was the late 1990s, and Nvidia was looking for a manufacturer to produce its graphics chips. Foundry capacity was limited, and some foundries required companies to license their technology in exchange for access.
Huang had heard of TSMC, then a far smaller company than the chipmaking giant it is today, and decided to reach out.
He found its US office number in the Yellow Pages, the telephone directory, and called. He reached a recording.
Huang left his contact details and explained what Nvidia was building. He tried several more times.
"Nobody called me. Nobody called me back," Huang said.
He eventually wrote Chang a lengthy letter.
After another long silence, Huang received an unexpected phone call one evening.
"This is Morris Chang from TSMC," the caller said, according to Huang.
Meanwhile, Nvidia employees were playing video games nearby, laughing and shouting.
"Hey, guys, shut up. It's Morris Chang," Huang recalled telling them.
Huang was thrilled that Chang had responded.
"Maybe we won't have to die," Huang said.
Chang invited Huang to Taiwan, where he visited TSMC and rival United Microelectronics Corp.
Huang said he was equally impressed by both companies but ultimately chose TSMC because of his conversations with Chang, who emphasized integrity, corporate governance, and long-term partnerships.
"Jensen, if we were to work together, I promise you we would jump through hoops for you," Chang told him.
"For the whole time, 30 years, they've been jumping through hoops for us," Huang said.
Today, TSMC manufactures Nvidia's advanced AI chips.