Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Calls for New AI Social Norms
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has called for the establishment of “new social norms” to govern the age of artificial intelligence, arguing in an exclusive interview with the Associated Press that society must embrace AI rather than fear it. Speaking at a groundbreaking ceremony for Coherent’s expanded manufacturing facility in Sherman, Texas, the leader of the world’s most valuable company — worth roughly $5 trillion — urged widespread adoption of the technology while acknowledging the need for regulation and national security safeguards.
“We need to create new social norms,” Huang told AP News. “I would advocate that everybody use AI. Just go engage it.”
Context: AI’s Rapid Transformation
Huang’s remarks come as AI technology rapidly transforms industries and daily life, raising profound questions about ethics, privacy, and human interaction. The Nvidia CEO compared the current technological shift to the societal adaptation that occurred with the advent of automobiles, noting that while cars were once portrayed as dangerous to children, society adapted by creating sidewalks, crosswalks, and traffic laws.
“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.”
AI currently accounts for roughly 3% of the U.S. economy, but according to economists Jessica Wachter and Jonathan Wachter, that figure could grow to between 8% and 39% based on current investment trajectories. The five largest U.S. technology firms invested $380 billion in AI infrastructure last year, with that sum potentially doubling in 2026.
The Coherent Partnership and Manufacturing Revival
Huang made his case at the groundbreaking of Coherent’s expanded facility in Sherman, Texas — a project that represents a fundamental test of whether AI will be a source of job creation rather than displacement. Nvidia has a $2 billion partnership with Coherent, which includes a multibillion-dollar purchase commitment for advanced laser and optical networking products.
The facility received a $50 million CHIPS Act grant, building on $17 million in earlier support from the Texas CHIPS program and local economic development. The expansion is expected to create 1,000 jobs, with about 550 in advanced manufacturing, engineering, and technical roles.
“Coherent is a world-class company, and the work you do is vital to our future, vital to the future of artificial intelligence and vital to reindustrializing the United States,” Huang said at the ceremony, as reported by the NVIDIA Blog.
The new laser technology for transmitting data among chips could cut power use by AI systems by up to 50%, addressing one of the industry’s most pressing challenges: energy consumption.
Regulation and National Security
Huang acknowledged the need for government regulation and safety standards for AI, emphasizing that national security must remain a priority. The Trump administration recently reversed course from a light regulatory touch, placing export controls on Anthropic’s latest AI models and signing an order for voluntary government screening of new AI models before release.
“National security should always be the top concern of all technologies,” Huang told the AP. “But having said that, you have to be very specific about the risk that you’re concerned about, before setting up policies for export controls.”
On the debate over government ownership stakes in AI companies — an idea supported by Sen. Bernie Sanders and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman — Huang expressed skepticism. “I’m not exactly sure what they’re trying to achieve,” he said. “These are American companies. Their success benefits the stock price, of which many Americans are investors in. It generates taxes, which helps many Americans. It creates a lot of jobs.”
The Trump Relationship and Energy Concerns
Huang’s deepening relationship with President Donald Trump has drawn both access and criticism. The two have met at least twice, with Trump calling Huang “smart,” “amazing,” and a “friend.” Trump had Air Force One pick up Huang in Alaska en route to a state visit to China.
“He was incredibly engaging, incredibly charismatic, conversational, asked a lot of questions,” Huang recalled of their first meeting at Mar-a-Lago. “From the moment that I met him, the only thing that he’s ever talked to me about is creating more jobs, reindustrializing the United States, protecting national security, winning.”
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., criticized Huang for not testifying before a Senate committee while attending a Mar-a-Lago dinner. Huang responded: “We could differ with politics, but we should want him to succeed. Because when President Trump succeeds, our country succeeds.”
Huang also identified energy production as a key vulnerability for American AI development. “The United States is woefully behind in energy production,” he said. “We just suffocated energy production for too long.”
Analysis and Critical Reception
While Huang’s call for new social norms has generated significant attention, critics have questioned the substance behind the appeal. PC Gamer noted that when pressed on what specific social norms should change, Huang’s answer was essentially “use AI” — a response that benefits Nvidia commercially. The outlet also highlighted that “free” AI tiers are subsidized by paid subscriptions and require enormous energy consumption.
What’s Next
As AI continues to reshape the economy and society, the debate over governance, energy infrastructure, and workforce impact will intensify. Huang’s vision of AI-driven reindustrialization faces a critical test in places like Sherman, Texas, where the promise of manufacturing jobs meets the reality of a rapidly automating world. The coming months will reveal whether the Trump administration’s evolving regulatory framework — balancing national security with commercial interests — can keep pace with the technology’s breakneck development.