SMRTR TechJul 29, 2025Interesting Engineering

How GPUs went from arcade graphics to running the world’s smartest machines

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Graphics processing units (GPUs) have evolved significantly since 1979, transitioning from arcade game visuals to consumer gaming, scientific computing, cryptocurrency mining, and AI. Key milestones include the 1996 Voodoo 1 card for 3D PC gaming and NVIDIA's 1999 GeForce 256, which defined the modern GPU. GPUs became crucial for scientific applications and, recently, AI and deep learning. NVIDIA dominates the market, with latest architectures promising enhanced performance for AI, robotics, and autonomous vehicles, solidifying GPUs as essential components in modern computing.

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