Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Admits He Doesn't Know His Own Address or Phone Number
The tech billionaire discussed the impact of AI on basic skills and job creation during an interview with The New York Times.
Jensen Huang, the founder and CEO of Nvidia, the world's largest company by market capitalization, revealed during a recent interview that he does not know his own home address or phone number. Huang's comments came during a conversation with Ezra Klein of The New York Times.
Nvidia's market capitalization has reached $5.4 trillion, and its stock has been a significant driver of returns in the U.S. stock market. Since 2023, 15 cents of every dollar returned by the stock market has come from Nvidia stock, according to The Times.
Huang, who started his career as a dishwasher before co-founding Nvidia, has become a pivotal figure in the advancement of Artificial Intelligence. The chips produced by his company are considered foundational to modern AI capabilities.
AI and the Erosion of Skills
Klein raised concerns about the impact of AI on fundamental skills, citing research suggesting that while AI tools can accelerate tasks like homework completion, the underlying skills may not be retained. Huang acknowledged this phenomenon but expressed a lack of concern.
"Try to get a kid to do long division right now," Huang said. "The multiplication table is starting to be forgotten. Doing square roots, my goodness. Basic math is being forgotten. Does it matter? I don't think it does. I don't think it does."
He suggested that while some skills are undeniably important, basic mathematics might not be among them, positing that society will likely "discover new ones."
When pressed by Klein on whether there are essential skills that matter, Huang stated, "There are a lot of skills that don't matter. My first confession, I actually don't know my address."
He elaborated that this lack of recall extends to practical matters, recounting an instance a few years prior where he was asked for his ZIP code while pumping gas and experienced a moment of panic due to not knowing it. "I don't know my telephone number. I forget these things. I can live with it," Huang added.
The Future of Work and AI
Throughout the interview, Huang and Klein also addressed public anxieties regarding AI's potential effects on the job market. Huang expressed optimism about job creation, anticipating significant shifts in employment.
"We are going to see jobs change en masse. I believe there's going to be a net creation of jobs," Huang stated.
He emphasized his sense of responsibility stemming from his company's influence in the technology sector. "I'm always worried about the future. That's why I work so hard. I'm a, if you will, responsible optimist," he said.
Huang described his approach to developing his company and technology with seriousness, aiming for the public to benefit from his optimism. He indicated that he applies this philosophy to his family life as well.
The Nvidia CEO also diverged from Elon Musk's recent view that humans might become a biological stepping stone to Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), disagreeing with that perspective.