Jensen Huang says society needs new social norms as artificial intelligence reshapes work

AP Exclusive: Nvidia's Jensen Huang says society needs 'new social norms' in the age of AI

SHERMAN, Texas (AP) -- Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang -- whose work helped enable artificial intelligence -- stressed in an Associated Press interview Tuesday that society has no choice but to change in the advent of AI. Huang has been optimistic about the technology's potential to rapidly change society, creating faster economic growth and more scientific breakthroughs. But as the head of a computer chip company now developing AI systems, Huang has felt obligated to respond to critics who warn of job losses and threats to humanity itself. "We need to create new social norms," Huang said in an interview. "I would advocate that everybody use AI. Just go engage it." He said the ability of AI to build a website, analyze complex documents, guide advanced research or even plan a kitchen remodeling has helped to close the technological divide in America. People can now do advanced work on computers without having to know how to program or write software, he added. Huang stressed that there is a need for government regulation and safety standards for AI, emphasizing that national security also needed to be a priority for the technology that has been powering stock market gains and much of the U.S. economy in recent years. The head of the world's most valuable company said society will adapt to AI just as it did to automobiles. He said cars were once portrayed as killing children, but the world changed its norms by having sidewalks and crosswalks and stopping kids from playing in the streets. "When I was growing up, I used to play in the streets," Huang said. "When cars came along, you obviously can't play in the streets now."

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says we need to 'deal with social norms' surrounding AI but apparently that means 'just go engage it'

Oh, right, of course that's exactly what he has in mind. Use AI, got it. When the Nvidia CEO isn't busy basking in the adoration of fans at Computex Taiwan, it seems he might spend his time considering how to shift social norms. In what direction, you ask? Why, using AI more, of course. That's what he told the Associated Press when the interviewer asked whether AI itself concerns people or "the absence of social structures to adapt to something happening so fast." Jensen responded that "it's a combination of all that" but also emphasised that new social norms are needed: "You have to deal with regulation, technology, you have to deal with social norms." He gives the example of automobiles and initial concerns over the harm they could do to people, especially children. But we changed social norms so that now kids are warned not to play in the street, there are laws surrounding speed, and so on. However, when asked what social norm should be changed for AI, the answer isn't particularly satisfying: "The first thing is that I would advocate that everybody use AI. Just go engage it." I'm not entirely sure that this response would traverse the analogy bridge over to automobiles very well. I can't imagine 'just use a car' would have been very convincing, back in the day. And I'm not sure how keen Huang would be on actually analogous shifts in norms and regulations, such as one akin to speed limits but for AI. Huang says that, unlike pretty much any other technology, AI is free and easy to use, which is true enough on the surface. However, those 'free' tiers of AI aren't actually free. AI uses and inflate the price of technology that already exists and is subsidised by higher paid tiers, funny money inflating a ballooned market, and of course (and apologies for getting a little technical here) a metric s***ton of energy. In other words, 'free' my arse. I also can't help but wonder whether there's an element of worry in Huang imploring people to actually use AI. After all, if people don't actually use the technology, eventually that lack of end-user demand will catch up with AI companies, and in turn with the company that gives them their AI hardware: Nvidia. As it stands, Nvidia is extremely profitable, but the companies that buy from Nvidia aren't. We'll just have to see how long it can last -- markets are funny things.

AP Exclusive: Nvidia's Jensen Huang Says Society Needs 'New Social Norms' in the Age of AI

SHERMAN, Texas (AP) -- Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang -- whose work helped enable artificial intelligence -- stressed in an Associated Press interview Tuesday that society has no choice but to change in the advent of AI. Huang has been optimistic about the technology's potential to rapidly change society, creating faster economic growth and more scientific breakthroughs. But as the head of a computer chip company now developing AI systems, Huang has felt obligated to respond to critics who warn of job losses and threats to humanity itself. "We need to create new social norms," Huang said in an interview. "I would advocate that everybody use AI. Just go engage it." He said the ability of AI to build a website, analyze complex documents, guide advanced research or even plan a kitchen remodeling has helped to close the technological divide in America. People can now do advanced work on computers without having to know how to program or write software, he added. Huang stressed that there is a need for government regulation and safety standards for AI, emphasizing that national security also needed to be a priority for the technology that has been powering stock market gains and much of the U.S. economy in recent years. The head of the world's most valuable company said society will adapt to AI just as it did to automobiles. He said cars were once portrayed as killing children, but the world changed its norms by having sidewalks and crosswalks and stopping kids from playing in the streets. "When I was growing up, I used to play in the streets," Huang said. "When cars came along, you obviously can't play in the streets now."

Nvidia's Jensen Huang says society needs 'new social norms' in the age of AI: AP Exclusive

SHERMAN, Texas -- Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang -- whose work helped enable artificial intelligence -- stressed in an Associated Press interview Tuesday that society has no choice but to change in the advent of AI. Huang has been optimistic about the technology's potential to rapidly change society, creating faster economic growth and more scientific breakthroughs. But as the head of a computer chip company now developing AI systems, Huang has felt obligated to respond to critics who warn of job losses and threats to humanity itself. "We need to create new social norms," Huang said in an interview. "I would advocate that everybody use AI. Just go engage it." He said the ability of AI to build a website, analyze complex documents, guide advanced research or even plan a kitchen remodeling has helped to close the technological divide in America. People can now do advanced work on computers without having to know how to program or write software, he added. Huang stressed that there is a need for government regulation and safety standards for AI, emphasizing that national security also needed to be a priority for the technology that has been powering stock market gains and much of the U.S. economy in recent years. The head of the world's most valuable company said society will adapt to AI just as it did to automobiles. He said cars were once portrayed as killing children, but the world changed its norms by having sidewalks and crosswalks and stopping kids from playing in the streets. "When I was growing up, I used to play in the streets," Huang said. "When cars came along, you obviously can't play in the streets now."

Society must change in era of artificial intelligence, says Nvidia boss | BreakingNews

Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang, whose work helped enable artificial intelligence, has stressed that society has no choice but to change in the advent of AI. Mr Huang has been optimistic about the technology's potential to rapidly change society, creating faster economic growth and more scientific breakthroughs. But as the head of a computer chip company now developing AI systems, Mr Huang has felt obligated to respond to critics who warn of job losses and threats to humanity itself. "We need to create new social norms," Mr Huang said in an interview. "I would advocate that everybody use AI. Just go engage it." He said the ability of AI to build a website, analyse complex documents, guide advanced research or even plan a kitchen remodelling has helped to close the technological divide in America. People can now do advanced work on computers without having to know how to write software, he added. Mr Huang stressed that there is a need for government regulation and safety standards for AI, emphasising that national security also needed to be a priority for the technology that has been powering stock market gains and much of the US economy in recent years. The head of the world's most valuable company said society will adapt to AI just as it did to cars. He said cars were once portrayed as killing children, but the world changed its norms by having paths and crossings and stopping kids from playing in the streets. "When I was growing up, I used to play in the streets," Mr Huang said. "When cars came along, you obviously can't play in the streets now."