The Thinking Machine offers a detailed analysis of Nvidia’s growth into a leading supplier of advanced computing hardware. Stephen Witt traces the company’s development over three decades, focusing on the technical decisions and business strategies that shaped its role in the AI industry.
Based on interviews with CEO Jensen Huang, employees, and investors, the book provides a close look at how the company approached long-term planning in a rapidly evolving sector.
A major part of the story is Huang’s early decision to invest in computing designed specifically for AI. At the time, it wasn’t an obvious move. The market was uncertain, and support for the idea was mixed, both inside and outside the company. Still, Nvidia kept building in that direction, developing products around a clear technical goal rather than chasing short-term trends.
Witt also examines how the company built its teams, handled growing interest in its work, and adjusted as AI transitioned into wider use.
There’s an emphasis on how Nvidia stayed focused while facing the usual mix of skepticism, pressure, and shifting expectations that come with building technology in a fast-moving industry.
The Thinking Machine presents how Nvidia navigated uncertainty through a mix of technical focus, patience, and consistency. It shows how early choices, maintained over time, have shaped the company’s current role in the AI landscape.