In 2009, Nvidia launched its inaugural developer conference, which resembled a science fair, with numerous academics filling a hotel in San Jose, California, adorned with white poster boards showcasing computer research. The company's CEO, Jensen Huang, navigated the space like a judge assessing the exhibits. Fast forward to this year, and Nvidia’s developer conference has transformed considerably. On Tuesday, over 25, 000 attendees are expected at Nvidia GTC, filling a National Hockey League arena to hear Mr. Huang’s keynote address on the future of artificial intelligence, which has earned him the nickname “A. I. Jesus. ” As the foremost developer of A. I. chips globally, Nvidia has infused San Jose with its signature neon green and black branding, leading to the closure of city streets and hotel prices skyrocketing to as much as $1, 800 per night. A lineup of industry heavyweights is slated to attend, including Michael Dell, CEO of Dell Technologies; Jeffrey Katzenberg, co-founder of DreamWorks and WndrCo; and Bill McDermott, CEO of ServiceNow. “Nvidia manufactures the chips that provide the lifeblood for A. I. , so everyone is eager to learn about their latest innovations, ” remarked Ali Farhadi, CEO of the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence, who will also be present. “The variety of technologies showcased will be extraordinary. ” The evolution of Nvidia’s conference from an academic gathering to the Super Bowl of A. I. — a comprehensive weeklong exhibition featuring robots, large language models, and autonomous vehicles — mirrors the company’s dramatic growth.

As A. I. has become mainstream, demand for Nvidia’s graphics processing units, the vital chips powering this technology, has surged, boosting the chipmaker’s valuation to nearly $3 trillion, up from $8 billion in 2009. However, Nvidia’s rapid rise has sparked some concerns. Generative A. I. , known for its capabilities in answering questions, generating images, and writing code, is celebrated for its potential to enhance businesses and generate trillions in economic value. Tech giants like Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and Meta are investing hundreds of billions of dollars to realize this vision. Thank you for your patience as we verify access. If you are in Reader mode, please exit and log into your Times account or consider subscribing for full access to The Times. Thank you for your understanding during the access verification process. If you’re already a subscriber, please log in. Interested in all of The Times?Subscribe now.