NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang was invited to give a keynote address at Carnegie Mellon University’s 128th commencement ceremony. He paid his respects to the graduating class and offered them graduation wishes, saying that we are at the beginning of an AI revolution—a crucial turning point for the global industrial transformation. Graduating students now have the best timing to bring “intelligence” to every person in the world.
Jensen Huang: Graduating now comes with the widest opportunities
At Carnegie Mellon University’s 2026 commencement ceremony, NVIDIA founder Jensen Huang addressed the graduates. He said this is the best time for graduates to kick off their careers. He noted that graduates are stepping into an extraordinary era, and encouraged them with the message, “We are all standing on the same starting line. No generation has more powerful tools than you do. Now is the beginning of you reshaping the future.”
Jensen Huang’s American dream started with falling for an older woman, and he beat 250 competitors to win her—then built a family
At the start of his speech, Huang, as always, used humor. He said he believes in the American dream. His wife was older than he was; when he began dating her, she was already 19, while he was only 17. Yet he was able to win out among 250 competitors from the same school, marry her, and have two children. He described how he went from being a dishwasher at a Denny’s restaurant to meeting two other co-founders of NVIDIA, Chris Malachowsky and Curtis Priem, and together they founded NVIDIA—an example of the best way to achieve the American dream for the first generation of immigrants.
“Intelligence” will truly benefit everyone
The transformation coming will go far beyond anything before. “Intelligence” will be at the core of all industries. When intelligence can be translated into scalable outputs, every sector will face structural adjustments—different from the technological barriers of the past. As AI is gradually becoming widespread today, it can help bridge long-standing technical divides, enabling workers without a technical background to also master advanced tools. He emphasized that this is not only a breakthrough in technology, but also the beginning of an entirely new era of scientific discovery—giving graduating students unprecedented opportunities.
AI-driven revival of real industries
Addressing concerns that AI will affect the labor market, Huang proposed the view that “automation will not replace purpose.” He used radiologists as an example, saying that AI can automate tasks such as processing medical images and interpreting scans, but it cannot replace caring for patients and purpose-driven decision-making. AI can enhance the career value of professionals. He believes AI is an opportunity to help the United States regain its ability to rebuild industry and national infrastructure. With the support of intelligent tools, traditional industries gain new opportunities that drive an industry revival.
Responsible AI advancement
In the face of uncertainty and social concerns brought by new technologies, Huang called for addressing risks with a clear-headed and responsible attitude. He laid out four guiding principles: steady progress, comprehensive deployment, widespread application, and encouraging everyone to participate. Huang said that historical experience shows that backing away from technology cannot stop progress; instead, it would mean losing the initiative to guide progress. Therefore, scientists and engineers must work together to improve system safety and capability. Policy makers, he said, should strike a balance between protecting social safety and maintaining innovation momentum. He argued that only when society embraces technology with an open and optimistic attitude can humanity’s potential be maximized.
“I Heart in the Work” encourages students to participate in the future of AI development
As a U.S. immigrant, Huang looked back on his journey in the United States and expressed gratitude for Carnegie Mellon University’s historical contributions as “the birthplace of artificial intelligence and robotics technology.” From the scholars Allen Newell, J.C. Shaw, and Hertbert Simon, who invented the first AI, the Logic Theorist, in the 1950s, to the Robotics Institute founded in 1979, the university has stayed at the forefront of AI technology. After receiving an honorary Doctor of Science and Technology degree, he quoted the school motto, “My heart is in the work,” urging graduates to devote their enthusiasm to creating things with social value. Huang stressed that only through deep participation and wise guidance in the development of technology can we ensure AI benefits the public at large and build a future aligned with the public interest.
This article, “Jensen Huang addresses Carnegie Mellon University’s graduates: ‘My heart is in the work’—your professional career begins at the start of the AI revolution,” first appeared on Chain News ABMedia.
