Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang calls robots 'AI immigrants' to solve global labor shortages

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says robots are 'AI immigrants' that can address labor shortages -- can 'do the type of work that maybe we decided not to do anymore'

The Nvidia CEO says robots will be the only way to sustain economies. Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang referred to AI-controlled robots as "AI immigrants" at a question and answer session with reporters at CES 2026 that Tom's Hardware attended. Huang's comment related to how robotics may do jobs that others do not wish to take on. Huang started off by saying that "having robots will create jobs," before turning on to discuss a global labor shortage, which he said is tens of millions of people. "We no longer, as a population, will be able to sustain the economies that we would like to have," Huang said. "And so we need to have more, you know, if you will, AI immigrants to help us in the manufacturing floors and do the type of work that maybe we decided not to do anymore." He followed up by saying that the "robotics revolution" will drive the economy forward, and that will allow for more jobs to hire more people. "We just need the economy to do well," Huang said. "We need inflation to stay low so that, you know, more jobs will be created, living will be more affordable. All of that's going to come with AI." The comment didn't cause any gasps or reactions from the crowd of press at the event. Many will think the suggestion that human immigrants do jobs that others don't want to do is already an oversimplification of a complex situation. But it becomes even more complicated when comparing AI robots to the human condition, especially when there is fear about whether humans may have jobs at all. Huang isn't the first tech leader to say that AI will create jobs. Many have done so with the idea that with agentic copilots, office workers will become far more efficient. He also said that "there are a lot of jobs that won't be replaced by AI for a very long time." But Huang's suggestion that physical, blue-collar labor in manufacturing or other areas could go may scare those who thought their woodworking skills, HVAC certification, or pure grit and determination would keep them working, no matter where they come from. The CEO also said that he expected to see robots with human-level skills "this year," with work on locomotion, articulation, and finally fine motor skills. "We don't just use our eyes, we also use touch," he said. "And the robot only has eyes, so it needs to have touch and so those fine motor skills are hard, hard to develop, but we're developing technology in that area, and I know the rest of the industry is doing so as well."

Nvidia CEO praises robots as 'AI immigrants'

Las Vegas (AFP) - Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang described robots as "AI immigrants" on Tuesday, arguing they could solve a global labor shortage that is hampering manufacturing. Addressing concerns about machines replacing human workers, the leader of the world's dominant AI chip company took the opposite stance. "Having robots will create jobs," Huang told 200 journalists and analysts during a 90-minute session at a Las Vegas hotel on the sidelines of the CES technology show. "We need more AI immigrants to help us on manufacturing floors and do work that maybe we've decided not to do anymore," said Huang, whose off-the-cuff remarks have become a popular CES tradition. The gathering runs through Friday, with some 130,000 attendees. Like every year, robots are a major presence at CES, with companies hoping they will break into the mainstream as useful devices instead of novelties. A "robotics revolution" will compensate for labor losses from aging populations and demographic decline while boosting the economy, Huang argued. "When the economy grows, we hire more people," he said, sporting his signature black leather jacket. Huang, who leads the world's most valuable company at roughly $3.5 trillion, estimated the worker shortage reaches "tens of millions," not thousands, due to demographic shifts. His comments align with other Silicon Valley leaders, particularly Tesla and SpaceX's Elon Musk, who frequently cite population decline and workforce aging as reasons to embrace automation. Nvidia is investing heavily in providing the foundational software that can make robots work across multiple industries, including manufacturing, retail, and healthcare.

Nvidia CEO praises robots as 'AI immigrants'

AMD CEO Lisa Su says 'AI is not replacing people', but hints at a quiet shift reshaping who gets hiredNvidia chief executive Jensen Huang described robots as "AI immigrants" on Tuesday, arguing they could solve a global labor shortage that is hampering manufacturing. Addressing concerns about machines replacing human workers, the leader of the world's dominant AI chip company took the opposite stance. "Having robots will create jobs," Huang told 200 journalists and analysts during a 90-minute session at a Las Vegas hotel on the sidelines of the CES technology show. "We need more AI immigrants to help us on manufacturing floors and do work that maybe we've decided not to do anymore," said Huang, whose off-the-cuff remarks have become a popular CES tradition. The gathering runs through Friday, with some 130,000 attendees. Like every year, robots are a major presence at CES, with companies hoping they will break into the mainstream as useful devices instead of novelties. A "robotics revolution" will compensate for labor losses from aging populations and demographic decline while boosting the economy, Huang argued. "When the economy grows, we hire more people," he said, sporting his signature black leather jacket. Huang, who leads the world's most valuable company at roughly $3.5 trillion, estimated the worker shortage reaches "tens of millions," not thousands, due to demographic shifts. His comments align with other Silicon Valley leaders, particularly Tesla and SpaceX's Elon Musk, who frequently cite population decline and workforce aging as reasons to embrace automation. Nvidia is investing heavily in providing the foundational software that can make robots work across multiple industries, including manufacturing, retail, and healthcare.