GPU's: What are they, where did they come from, why do I need one for AI?

The history of Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) is a fascinating journey that begins with their humble origins as tools for enhancing 3D graphics in video games. These early GPUs (then called 3D accelerators) such as the 3dfx Voodoo2 released in 1998, laid the foundation for what would become a transformative force in computing technology.

Early Beginnings and Gaming Acceleration

In the late 1990s, the gaming industry was on the cusp of a revolution. The demand for more realistic and immersive gaming experiences was growing, and traditional CPUs struggled to keep up with the computational demands of rendering complex 3D scenes in real time. This demand for enhanced graphics led to the birth of dedicated GPUs, designed to offload the intricate calculations required for 3D graphics rendering from the CPU to specialized hardware.