Taiwan, Technology, and Human Connection

Overview

Lex Fridman visits Taiwan with NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang during Computex. The trip combines conversations about semiconductors, AI, geopolitics, and NVIDIA’s history with tours of Taiwan’s engineering community and night markets.

Taiwan’s Role in Technology

• Taiwan produces more than 90% of the world’s most advanced semiconductors, making it central to computers, smartphones, GPUs, and AI data centers.
• Jensen attributes the island’s technology ecosystem to long-term investment in science and manufacturing, strong engineering culture, and a willingness to work hard and help others.
• He traces the industry’s roots to government vision in the 1950s, the establishment of local semiconductor companies, and the growth of Taiwan’s foundries during the PC boom.
• Taiwan’s engineers and companies are key partners in efforts to expand U.S. semiconductor manufacturing. Jensen argues the AI boom offers an opportunity to rebuild manufacturing capacity and invest in infrastructure, energy, and robotics.

NVIDIA, AI, and Computex

• At Computex, Jensen shows Lex new NVIDIA systems, including fully liquid-cooled hardware designed for faster assembly and reliability.
• Jensen explains that AI infrastructure is increasingly measured by how quickly it generates and sells tokens, rather than by traditional metrics such as CPU cores.
• He describes AI as a five-layer stack that depends on multiple technologies, including energy, computing, and manufacturing.
• Jensen emphasizes that gamers helped NVIDIA grow and remain an important part of the company’s roots.

Competition, Trade, and Interdependence

• Jensen argues that export controls involve a balance: restricting access can protect certain advantages, but excessive limits can weaken the economic and technology “flywheel” created by broad platform adoption.
• That flywheel links customers, technology use, revenue, and further research and development.
• He supports competing while doing everything possible to avoid conflict. Shared technologies, trade, research, and human relationships can make countries harder to separate.
• Both speakers stress that international competition should coexist with collaboration and mutual respect.

NVIDIA’s Long-Term Partnership with TSMC

• Jensen recounts contacting TSMC founder Morris Chang when NVIDIA was a startup seeking a chip foundry.
• TSMC stood out for its values, integrity, long-term thinking, and willingness to work closely with NVIDIA. Chang promised the company would “jump through hoops” for them.
• Jensen says their 30-year relationship succeeded because they chose who to build with, rather than treating the arrangement as a simple purchase.
• He favors flexible, durable partnerships over rigid agreements, and says partners should be supported in their own success and sustainability.

Taiwan’s Food and Hospitality

• Jensen introduces Lex to night markets and local favorites, including oyster pancakes, noodles, dumplings, shaved ice, soy milk, pork dishes, and sweet snacks.
• The group repeatedly encounters vendors’ generosity and enthusiasm, even when the food is inexpensive.
• Jensen connects the night market to childhood memories and appreciates the craft and kindness of the people who work there.
• Lex reflects on the hospitality he experiences throughout Taiwan, as well as the joy of sharing meals and meeting people.

Closing Thought

The trip celebrates engineers and the communities behind the technology people rely on. Lex leaves grateful for Taiwan’s hospitality, its engineering culture, and the chance to build understanding through conversation, collaboration, and shared meals.