Huang Renxun's latest university speech: AI will not replace you; your career already has the strongest weapon in history from the start

Jensen Huang delivers a speech to 5,800 Carnegie Mellon University graduates, emphasizing how AI is reshaping computing paradigms and enabling everyone to become engineers. AI will not replace humans, but those who make good use of AI will—he encourages the students to run full speed into the future.

Jensen Huang’s latest university speech: The AI revolution ushers in a new era for fresh graduates

On Mother’s Day (5/10), NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang was invited to speak at Carnegie Mellon University’s commencement ceremony and was awarded an honorary doctorate. With more than 5,800 graduates watching in the room, he shared insights on the shift in computing paradigms, how building infrastructure can bridge the technology divide, and how the workplace will change amid technological waves.

Key Point 1: The shift in computing paradigms

In his speech, Huang looked back on the evolution from mainframes to personal computers to internet-based cloud computing, stressing that the changes happening now are unprecedented in scale.

He pointed out that computing methods are undergoing the first complete reset in 60 years—the era in which humans wrote software and computers executed instructions has ended, and AI has reshaped computing. Technological development has shifted from writing code to machine learning, from CPUs running software to GPUs operating neural networks, evolving computers to understand, reason, and plan.

Huang said that emerging industries producing intelligence at large scale have already begun to appear, and every industry will change as a result.

Key Point 2: AI bridges the technology divide

Huang mentioned that in the past, only a small number of people had the ability to write software, but now everyone can build software tools through AI. Whether it’s a shop owner creating a website or a carpenter designing a kitchen, AI technology is assisting with coding in the background—so that everyone becomes a programmer for the first time.

This will also drive the largest-scale expansion of technology infrastructure. To support AI, the U.S. will build chip factories, data centers, and advanced manufacturing facilities nationwide, promoting the development of modern power grids. Builders—including electricians and steelworkers—will enter an entirely new industrial era, and for the first time, computing power will reach billions of people.

Key Point 3: Will AI replace you?

Throughout history, every major technological revolution has created opportunities while also triggering fear. But the first task in how to look at it is to stay “clear-headed.” Huang said: “We should not teach people to fear the future, but to embrace it with optimism, responsibility, and ambition.”

This is because, although AI will automate many tasks and some jobs may disappear, it will also create many new jobs and entirely new industries.

Huang explained that the “tasks” and the “purposes” of work are two different things. The “task” of writing code will become increasingly automated, but software engineers who use AI can therefore expand the range of problems they can solve, tackling more ambitious challenges. AI will not replace humans’ “purpose”; instead, it will amplify and strengthen human capabilities.

Therefore, Huang emphasized: “AI is unlikely to replace you, but those who know how to use AI better than you might.” What scientists and decision-makers must do is to advance technology safely, formulate well-considered policies, make AI widely available, and encourage everyone to participate—“Everyone should have an AI opportunity; it should not belong only to people who can write code.”

Further reading:
Welcome back to the past! Jensen Huang: It’s not that today’s young people aren’t working hard—why getting too clear-eyed too early makes you more tired?

Run, don’t walk

Every setback strengthens character. Only by treating failure as a moment to learn can you accumulate the strength to set off again.

Huang mentioned his own experiences. He said that when Nvidia was just starting out, they once nearly burned through all their money because the technology couldn’t work. He also once flew to SEGA (SEGA) in person to apologize and seek help after they failed to fulfill a contract—showing the importance of honesty and humility in business interactions.

As Carnegie Mellon University President Farnam Jahanian hoped, graduates should become doers. Huang urged everyone to dedicate all their energy to creating things worthy of their potential and education, and at this key moment when technology is reshaping the world, run full speed to meet the challenges of the future:

“No generation has entered society with tools more powerful or opportunities greater than yours. We’re all standing on the same starting line. Now is the time for you to help shape the future—so run, don’t walk!”

Jensen Huang’s speech video