NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang and chief scientist Bill Dally were honored this week in the United Kingdom with the prestigious 2025 Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering, recognizing their transformative contributions to modern machine learning and AI. The award, presented by His Majesty King Charles III at St James’s Palace, celebrates their leadership in developing GPU architectures that power today’s artificial intelligence systems. Huang and Dally were acknowledged for their pioneering work in accelerated computing, which has fundamentally reshaped the computer industry. Their innovations enabled the rapid training of large-scale AI models, revolutionized scientific simulation, and accelerated progress across fields from medicine to climate science. The prize highlights how their vision helped spark what many now call the "big bang of AI"—a technological explosion that is redefining computing at every level, from hardware and software to algorithms and real-world applications. “To be recognized among the pioneers whose work has shaped the world we live in today is an extraordinary honor,” Huang said, reflecting on the legacy of past technological breakthroughs like the internet and GPS. “We are living through the most profound transformation in computing since the invention of the microprocessor. AI has become essential infrastructure — as vital to future progress as electricity and the internet were to previous generations.” Dally emphasized the deep roots of AI in decades of research in parallel computing and stream processing. “We continue to apply engineering methods to refine AI hardware and software so that AI can empower people to achieve even greater things,” he said, underscoring the ongoing evolution of the field. Their collaborative efforts laid the foundation for the computing platforms that now drive AI innovation globally. Alongside the other six laureates of the 2025 prize, Huang and Dally helped establish the technological bedrock that enables AI to scale across industries and applications. Earlier in the day, Huang and Dally participated in a roundtable at 10 Downing Street with Liz Kendall, Secretary of State for Science, Technology and Innovation, and Lord Patrick Vallance, Minister for Science, Research, Innovation and Nuclear. The discussion focused on how the UK can foster the next generation of engineers and strengthen its position in AI innovation. The event also marked National Engineering Day, an annual celebration of engineering’s impact on everyday life. The conversation built on NVIDIA’s ongoing collaboration with the UK government, universities, and industry to expand AI infrastructure, advance research, and develop engineering talent—ensuring future innovators have access to the computational power needed for discovery. In a separate recognition, Huang was awarded the Professor Stephen Hawking Fellowship at the Cambridge Union, the world’s oldest debating society. The honor, bestowed by the Cambridge Union Society and Lucy Hawking, the daughter of the late physicist, celebrates individuals who advance science and inspire future generations in STEM fields. “Professor Hawking’s life showed that intellect has no boundaries,” Huang said during the ceremony. “That curiosity—pursued with humor and grace—can expand the reach of humanity. He taught us that discovery is an act of optimism. And I can think of no higher compliment than to be associated with that spirit.” Huang was presented with the fellowship by Lucy Hawking and later joined a fireside chat with Union President Ivan Alexei Ampiah, further reinforcing the importance of curiosity, collaboration, and public engagement in shaping the future of technology.