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Chan: Academic researchers, not Nvidia, initiated using GPUs for AI compute

Keong Chan · Surfing the Waves of Deep Tech: Early-Stage University Research and Startup Formation · Jul 3, 2025 · at 31:57

Keong Chan, Managing Director of Out the Back Ventures, discusses how university researchers uncovered early AI computing applications before Nvidia recognized the opportunity.

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“Researchers brought the, ah, use case of GPUs for AI. Researchers did that, not Nvidia. They were focusing on gaming, but these guys, these researchers were using it for compute. He wasn't aware of that.”

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