Elon Musk warns Nvidia will lose 'critical' deals without Jensen Huang

详细摘要

Musk said Nvidia could lose critical deals following the exit of rHuang, arguing that many agreements depended on personal trust rather than written contracts.

Elon Musk said chipmaker Nvidia would lose "critical" deals without its now ousted CEO Jensen Huang, in a post on X on Saturday.

Musk said that while Huang drove supply chain "brilliantly" at Nvidia, many such deals were “a handshake with Jensen, not a written contract.”

For decades, Huang personally cultivated relationships with some of the world's most important semiconductor manufacturers and technology suppliers, particularly in Asia. These relationships were not simply conventional buyer-supplier arrangements. They were partnerships built on credibility, long-term commitments and a shared belief in future growth.

The relationship between NVIDIA and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is a powerful example. Huang and TSMC built a relationship spanning nearly three decades. In an interview with Dwarkesh Patel, Huang acknowledged that NVIDIA and TSMC did not have a formal legal contract, describing the relationship as one built on mutual trust and dependability.

This is an extraordinary achievement in an industry where billions of dollars in manufacturing capacity, advanced packaging and infrastructure investments are at stake.

Huang's personal credibility also helped persuade suppliers to make enormous investments ahead of demand. His ability to communicate NVIDIA's future requirements gave partners the confidence to expand capacity and align their businesses with NVIDIA's ambitious product roadmap.

However, corporate relationships built around one individual can become vulnerable during leadership transitions.

NVIDIA certainly has institutional agreements, experienced executives and established procurement systems. Its supplier ecosystem will not simply disappear overnight. Nevertheless, replacing Huang's personal influence will be considerably harder than appointing another chief executive.

Some partners may reconsider commitments, investment priorities or preferential arrangements. Competitors could also exploit any uncertainty.

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