NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang Tells Leaders to Expand AI Ambitions

Jensen Huang has told business leaders to expand their ambitions as AI reshapes workforce productivity and employment opportunities across multiple sectors.

The NVIDIA CEO challenged widespread concerns about AI-driven job losses at ServiceNow's Knowledge 2026 Conference.

Speaking with ServiceNow CEO Bill McDermott, Jensen argued that corporate leaders should "use AI to do the work".

"Many people think AI will change jobs," Jensen says.

"Some worry that AI will destroy jobs. But what we all need to know first is that as long as you have greater ambition than your company can currently handle, AI is currently only playing the role of creating jobs."

His comments could signal a shift in how technology executives frame the employment impact of artificial intelligence adoption.

AI infrastructure fuels hiring

According to Jensen, employment growth is accelerating across what he describes as the "five-layer cake" of energy, chips, infrastructure, models and applications.

"The number of jobs in the energy sector is surging," he says. "And in the semiconductor sector, we can see jobs, factories, manufacturing facilities and computer plants being built around the world.

"Infrastructure is also creating unprecedented jobs."

According to the Northern Virginia Technology Council and the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, a typical data centre of around 250,000 square feet could add up to 1,500 workers on site during the construction phase.

McKinsey analysis suggests that companies will invest almost US$7tn in capital expenditures on data centre infrastructure globally.

This investment level is driving the job growth Jensen describes and prompting organisations to develop workforce initiatives.

BlackRock announced in March that it would invest US$100m in the BlackRock Future Builders Initiative.

The programme is designed to connect workers to skilled trades training, with the company saying that matching the pace of demand was "essential" for enabling economic growth.

"Remarkable growth is happening at every layer," Jensen continues. "I think the story around AI needs to be retold."

Productivity should increase ambition

As businesses integrate AI tools into their operations, many are examining opportunities to reduce headcount. Jensen argues this approach misunderstands the technology's potential.

"You might think of productivity as cost reduction, but I think productivity should be thought of as raising ambition," he says.

"AI will help realise your ambitions faster than you ever have."

Companies that facilitate AI adoption in their workforce will have employees who are "tremendously empowered," according to Jensen.

He advises that leaders need to "redeploy employees and actively utilise them".

NVIDIA's own workforce demonstrates this approach. Jensen says employees have been "freed" by AI adoption, allowing them to "focus on the problems they want to solve".

The CEO has advocated for AI use within NVIDIA for some time.

He previously called managers within the company who limit AI usage within their teams "insane".

According to Business Insider, Jensen said in an earnings call: "My understanding is that Nvidia has some managers who are telling their people to use less AI. I want every task that is possible to be automated with AI to be automated with AI. I promise you, you will have work to do."

His position contributes to an ongoing debate within the technology sector about how AI will reshape employment patterns and corporate strategy in the coming years.