At Computex 2025, the tech industry's most powerful CEOs weren't just showcasing chips. They were showcasing themselves.
While Computex 2025 dazzled with next-gen AI systems and bold strategic roadmaps, two contrasting leadership styles emerged from the event's most closely watched CEOs—Intel's Lip-Bu Tan and Nvidia's Jensen Huang—both engaging Taiwan's tech elite in their own distinct ways.
On one side was Huang, whose signature charisma took center stage through public displays of personal connection during keynotes by Foxconn and MediaTek. On the other was Tan, making his low-key Computex debut not with a keynote, but at an exclusive, off-stage dinner with Intel's key supply chain partners. Together, their approaches revealed a subtle game of "personal diplomacy" being played by two of the semiconductor world's most influential figures.
Huang: charisma, banter, and night market fruit
Jensen Huang, already a beloved figure in Taiwan, added new chapters to his personal legend through unscripted moments on stage with Foxconn Chairman Young Liu and MediaTek CEO Rick Tsai.
At Foxconn's keynote, following remarks on AI manufacturing and electric vehicles, Liu turned the spotlight on Huang with a humorous but intimate line of questioning. Citing a Chinese proverb about the "great woman" behind every great man, Liu invited Huang to share a message with his wife. Without hesitation, Huang responded, "Love you honey," revealing they met in an electrical engineering class when he was 17 and she had "just turned 19"—jokingly adding, "an older woman."
He recounted how their relationship began in a lab of 250 students with only three women, joking that his "superpower" was tutoring her to earn "straight A's" every Sunday—a clever ploy to secure a weekly date.
Liu later asked about a watch that Huang was rumored to wear. "I don't wear a watch," Huang replied. "It's fake news." His reason? "I don't care about the time. I care about right now. I'm 100% here."
The moment drew laughter but also piqued curiosity among local observers. That's because Huang had been photographed in Taipei wearing a Richard Mille RM 27-05 Rafael Nadal Tourbillon, a timepiece that retails for over US$1.2 million and is limited to only 80 pieces worldwide.
Later at the MediaTek keynote, Rick Tsai shared a lighthearted culinary story from March's GTC event when Huang served him a sausage pancake from Denny's—Tsai described it as Huang's "specialty," even picturing him in a red apron. In return, Tsai gifted Huang a bag of fruits from a local night market, courtesy of a vendor Tsai affectionately called "that Fruit Lady."
Huang's reaction was exuberant. "No way! Oh, fantastic! Wow wow!" he exclaimed, calling the gift "a treasure" and "gold." The audience laughed as Huang noted how his popularity now makes it difficult to get a seat at local eateries.
Credit: Digitimes
Tan: humility, heritage, and quiet rebuilding
In stark contrast, Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan chose a more intimate and understated path. Though his presence at Computex marked his first major appearance in Taiwan as Intel's new leader, Tan skipped the main stage in favor of a private dinner with supply chain partners—emphasizing substance over the spotlight.
Still, Tan delivered a powerful keynote earlier in the week that spoke volumes about his long-standing ties with Taiwan and Intel's ambitions. "Taiwan is not just a special place for me personally," he said. "It is the undisputed global hub for semiconductor innovation and a cornerstone of the world's technology supply chain."
He detailed Intel's vision to lead the next AI wave through deep collaboration across Taiwan's ecosystem—from foundries and OSATs to ODMs and IHVs. "The 'New Intel' is built on three principles: build the best products, delight our customers, and execute flawlessly," Tan said. "To do that, we must work hand-in-glove with our Taiwanese partners."
Tan's personal ties to Taiwan run deep. Recalling his early days in the 1980s, he recounted advice from the late Minister KT Li and former board meetings where he was asked to speak Chinese rather than English.
He smiled as he described how "車馬費" (travel stipends) helped build trust—offering a lesson in Taiwanese business culture: "做人 before 做事"—be a good person before doing business.
The Intel chief struck a humble tone, committing to "under-promise and over-deliver," a strategy he says will define Intel's next phase.
A closing video showed Taiwanese tech executives affirming Intel's renewed commitment—a quiet but firm signal of trust. Check out the exclusive video you won't see elsewhere.
Article edited by Jack Wu
