Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Tells Carnegie Mellon Grads AI Creates New Opportunities in Commencement Address
Jensen Huang delivered the 2026 commencement address at Carnegie Mellon University, urging new graduates to seize what he called a perfect moment to begin their careers despite public concerns over AI's impact on jobs. The 61-year-old Nvidia founder, who launched the company in 1993, contrasted his optimism with warnings from other tech leaders and data showing rising anxiety and unemployment…
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang gave the commencement address at Carnegie Mellon University on Sunday, telling graduates there has been no better time to begin a career. " "Now it's your time to realize your dreams, and the timing could not be more perfect," he said.
Huang, who has an estimated net worth of nearly $186 billion, graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in electrical engineering in 1984.
He later earned a master's in electrical engineering from Stanford before launching Nvidia in 1993. He told the new grads that AI was closing the technology divide, allowing anyone to build something useful. This, he said, meant there would be many new opportunities for young people in the coming years.
Huang said "AI is not likely to replace you. " Insider reported that as public anxiety around AI grows, Huang has struck a positive tone in recent appearances. His optimistic remarks contrast with other assessments.
A Pew Research Center study found that about half of Americans felt the increased prevalence of AI in their daily lives made them feel more concerned than excited. At least a dozen major companies have cited increased efficiency from AI as a factor in their decision to lay off employees this year.
AI has also made job-seeking more difficult by prolonging the interview process and making it tougher for new grads to land work.
The unemployment rate for new grads reached a 4-year high at the start of 2026. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei warned last year that AI could wipe out 50% of white-collar entry-level jobs. Elon Musk told Joe Rogan in February that humans faced a 20% chance of annihilation.
In recent weeks, Huang has sought to counter such dire predictions. On a podcast earlier this month, he said AI leaders should be more mindful of how they talk about the technology. "These kinds of comments are not helpful," Huang said on the "Memos to the President" podcast.
"They're made by people who are like me — CEOs.
Key Facts
Story Timeline
6 events- 2026-05-10
Jensen Huang delivers commencement address at Carnegie Mellon University
2 sourcesInsider - 2026-05
Huang appears on 'Memos to the President' podcast urging AI leaders to be more mindful
1 sourceInsider - 2026-02
Elon Musk tells Joe Rogan humans face 20% chance of annihilation
1 sourceInsider - 2026-01
Unemployment rate for new graduates reaches 4-year high
1 sourceInsider - 2025
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei warns AI could wipe out 50% of white-collar entry-level jobs
1 sourceInsider - 1993
Jensen Huang launches Nvidia
1 sourceInsider
Potential Impact
- 01
At least a dozen companies have already cited AI efficiencies in layoff decisions this year
- 02
New graduates face highest unemployment rate in four years amid prolonged AI-assisted interview processes
- 03
Huang's address seeks to counter warnings from CEOs like Dario Amodei and Elon Musk about AI's risks
- 04
Public concern over AI job displacement may influence midterm elections and AI regulation debates
Transparency Panel
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