Nvidia boss criticises 'cheap' AI doomsday warnings

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has criticised warnings that artificial intelligence (AI) could destroy humanity, describing such claims as “cheap” attempts to attract media attention and insisting that the technology should be developed with “responsible optimism”.

Speaking at a conference organised by Nvidia in Berlin on Thursday, Huang rejected predictions that AI could bring an end to human civilisation.

“When you say that it will be the end of the human civilisation, first of all, it's not true,” he said, arguing that such statements generated headlines despite lacking a sound basis.

Huang's remarks come amid an intensifying debate over the potential risks of advanced AI systems, particularly after reports of the technology bypassing safeguards during testing raised concerns among researchers and policymakers.

In September, a researcher resigned from AI company Anthropic, warning that leading AI laboratories were taking serious risks with humanity's future. Leaders at Anthropic and OpenAI have also called for slowing aspects of AI development.

Huang, however, has consistently advocated continued investment and rapid advancement in the technology. Addressing the Berlin conference, he urged governments, businesses and researchers to adopt a balanced approach that recognises AI's potential benefits while maintaining responsibility in its development.

“If you care about the future, past our own lives, if we care about the future of sustainability, this is the perfect time -- build AI,” he said.

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Huang's comments also come amid discussions over how governments should regulate the rapidly expanding AI industry. US President Donald Trump has opposed strict AI regulations, raising questions about the extent of future government intervention in the sector.

During his European tour, Huang announced nearly $10 billion in investments in Europe's technology sector and urged the region to accelerate its AI development to remain competitive globally.

Europe has faced challenges in matching the scale of investment and computing infrastructure available in the United States and China.

As debate over AI safety continues, Huang's remarks reflect the contrasting views within the industry: while some experts advocate greater caution, others argue that continued development is essential to technological progress, economic growth and future innovation.