Accelerated Computing: What It Is and How It Works

By Benjamin Locke – Updated May 20, 2025 at 1:16 PM EST | Fact-checked by Frank Bass

Key Points

Accelerated computing uses specialized hardware like GPUs to enhance task speed, aiding AI and simulations.
This technology improves energy efficiency and supports advancements in AI, healthcare, and autonomous vehicles.
Invest in firms like Nvidia or sector-specific ETFs like BOTZ for exposure to the accelerated computing market.

Artificial intelligence is on the rise, and hardware like accelerated computing is being used in all corners of the world. In an environment that is leaning toward economic nationalism, hardware related to compute power and the acceleration of AI developments will be a key geopolitical issue. But what does accelerated computing really mean? Is it just a computer that goes faster than normal? Let’s break it down below.

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A hand holding a microchip above a circuit board. — Image source: Getty Images.

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How to take advantage of accelerated computing

Use cloud services to rent acceleration

You don’t need a supercomputer tucked away in your garage to access accelerated computing. Services like Amazon's (AMZN +0.15%) AWS, Alphabet's (GOOG +0.69%)(GOOGL +0.86%) Google Cloud, and Microsoft's (MSFT +3.00%) Azure let companies rent time on GPU- or TPU-backed servers. The rentals can allow a small biotech startup, for example, to run protein simulations in days instead of weeks, without needing to spend millions on custom hardware.

Use existing libraries to help set it up

If you have access to the right hardware or cloud services, as mentioned above, the next step is using software that knows how to talk to it. Existing libraries and frameworks like CUDA, TensorFlow, and PyTorch are designed to run on GPUs and other accelerators. If you were training an AI model or running complex data analysis, using one of these libraries could cut hours off your processing time, without needing to rewrite everything from scratch.

Gain exposure to accelerated computing through investment

Investing in accelerated computing means betting on the future of high-speed data processing, AI, and real-time analytics. Publicly traded companies like Nvidia (NVDA -0.16%), Advanced Micro Devices (AMD +0.49%), and Broadcom (AVGO +1.74%)are at the core of this transformation, building the chips and hardware that power everything from self-driving cars to AI research. While individual stocks offer strong growth potential, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) such as Global X Robotics & AI (BOTZ +0.99%) or iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX +0.98%) provide diversified exposure with less volatility. For investors looking to ride the accelerated computing wave without picking winners, these funds can be a smart entry point.

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How Nvidia is taking the lead on accelerated computing

Nvidia has been one of the fastest-growing companies in recent memory, and its forays into accelerated computing have put the world on notice. Originally a graphics card company, Nvidia GPUs now play a central role in AI model training and data center infrastructure. For example, the famous ChatGPT-4, developed by OpenAI, was trained using Nvidia graphics processors, which dramatically sped up the process of running and updating the model’s parameters.

Nvidia’s hardware has completely reshaped how fast computers can think in real-time. Their A100 and newer H100 chips are used in everything from training LLMs to powering self-driving cars, because they handle massive amounts of data much faster than regular CPUs. With tools like CUDA, even smaller teams can tap into that level of compute power without being expert-level programmers.

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John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft, Nvidia, and iShares Trust - iShares Semiconductor ETF. The Motley Fool recommends Broadcom and recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.