How HP Inc. evolved from a garage startup into a global computing titan
Born from a 2015 split of the iconic Hewlett-Packard, HP Inc. remains a powerhouse in personal computing and printing. While it navigates the transition to AI-integrated hardware and sustainable manufacturing, the company faces persistent scrutiny over its restrictive ink policies and complex supply chain ethics in a global market.
HP Inc. traces its lineage to the 1939 partnership of Bill Hewlett and David Packard, who launched their venture in a Palo Alto garage. The modern entity emerged in November 2015, when the original Hewlett-Packard split into two distinct firms: HP Inc., which retained the PC and printer divisions, and Hewlett Packard Enterprise. Today, HP Inc. is a major player on the New York Stock Exchange and a constituent of the S&P 500, ranking 63rd among U.S. corporations by revenue in 2023.
The company has aggressively expanded its portfolio through strategic acquisitions, including Samsung’s printer division in 2017, HyperX in 2021, and Poly Inc. in 2022. More recently, HP has pivoted toward artificial intelligence. In 2024, it introduced the Omni brand for AI-powered PCs, and in 2025, it acquired AI assets from Humane to bolster its software capabilities. This culminated in the 2026 launch of HP IQ, an ecosystem platform designed to unify hardware through local AI processing.
Despite its technological growth, HP has faced significant controversy. Since 2016, the company has utilized 'Dynamic Security' firmware to block third-party ink cartridges, leading to class-action lawsuits across the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Furthermore, the company has been embroiled in allegations regarding its supply chain, including a 2020 report from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute linking it to potential forced labor in Xinjiang. These challenges persist alongside its ambitious sustainability goals, such as achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 and sourcing 75% of materials from circular sources by 2030.
Source: HP Inc.
