The Financial Times has named Jensen Huang, co-founder and chief executive of Nvidia, as its Person of the Year, underscoring the pivotal role the chipmaker has played in accelerating the global AI transformation. The designation reflects not only Nvidia’s extraordinary financial performance, but also Huang’s influence in reshaping how businesses, governments, and investors think about computing power and technological leadership.

From graphics pioneer to AI linchpin

Founded in 1993, Nvidia was long known for its dominance in graphics processing units (GPUs) for gaming. Under Huang’s leadership, the company steadily repositioned its technology toward parallel computing, a shift that would later prove foundational for modern machine learning and generative AI.

As demand exploded for large language models and AI-driven applications, Nvidia’s chips became the industry standard. The company’s data-center revenue has grown at a pace rarely seen in large-cap technology, helping propel Nvidia into the ranks of the world’s most valuable public companies. For markets, this transition marked a clear inflection point where hardware leadership once again became central to innovation.

Market impact and investor significance

Nvidia’s rise has had ripple effects across global equity markets. Its gains have materially influenced major indices, while sparking renewed investor interest in semiconductors, cloud infrastructure, and AI-adjacent industries. The company’s valuation surge has also intensified debate about concentration risk and the sustainability of AI-driven earnings growth.

For investors in Israel and other innovation-driven economies, Nvidia’s story reinforces the strategic value of deep-tech ecosystems. Israel’s own strengths in semiconductors, cybersecurity, and AI research position it as both a beneficiary and a competitor within the evolving global technology landscape.

Broader economic and geopolitical implications

The Financial Times’ recognition of Huang also reflects the growing intersection of technology, geopolitics, and industrial policy. Governments are increasingly viewing advanced chips as strategic assets, leading to export controls, subsidy programs, and renewed focus on supply chain resilience.

Nvidia sits at the center of these dynamics. Its products power innovation but are also subject to regulatory scrutiny, particularly in relation to U.S.–China technology tensions. Huang’s leadership has required navigating not just competitive markets, but also a complex and shifting political environment.

Looking ahead, investors will watch how Nvidia sustains growth as competition intensifies and customers seek alternatives. Key questions include the pace of AI monetization, evolving chip architectures, and whether current demand levels normalize or remain structurally higher. While challenges remain, the Financial Times’ decision signals a broader consensus: Jensen Huang has become one of the defining business leaders of this economic cycle, emblematic of how AI is reshaping markets and strategic priorities worldwide.