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number of tech's biggest leaders and CEO

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was on the hill today. Emily Wilkins

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caught up with Jensen Wong on his weigh

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in. Hey, Emily.

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Hey, Carl. Well, yeah, a lot of CEOs on

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the hill today. A lot of lawmakers

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speaking with them about AI in the

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future, which is exactly what brought

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Jensen Huang here today as well to talk

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about how the US needs to remain

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competitive when it comes to AI. I

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caught up with him for a few minutes and

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I asked him a little bit about how

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tariffs were impacting everything.

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There should always be policy that that

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enables us, supports and accelerate the

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ability for us to onshore manufacturing,

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but with willpower and and with the the

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resources of our country, I'm certain we

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can manufacture on shore. What's your

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reaction to the Wall Street Journal

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saying Huawei is advancing to catch up

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to your highest level chips? There's no

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question that Huawei is one of the most

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formidable technology companies in the

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world and they're incredible in

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computing. their incredible networking

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technology and software capabilities uh

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all of the essential uh capabilities to

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advance AI and they have they've made

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enormous progress in the last several

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years. Uh whatever whatever policy uh

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the administr administration puts

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together really should enable us to

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accelerate uh the development of AI

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enable us to compete on a global global

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stage. How far could I say one more like

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how far behind do you think China is?

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Uh, China is not behind. I anybody ahead

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of you? I China is right behind us. I

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mean, they're we're very very close. Uh,

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but remember this is a long-term this is

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an infinite race. There's no, you know,

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in the in the world of life, there's no

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those, you know, there's no

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two-minute end of the quarter. There's

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there's no such thing. And so, we're

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going to compete for a long time. And

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just reme remember that this is this is

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a country with great will and they have

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great technical capabilities. 50% of the

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world's AI researchers are Chinese and

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and so this is a uh this is an industry

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that that we will have to compete for.

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Huang will be visiting the White House

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later today to continue to talk about AI

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as well as tariffs. Of course, the White

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House is currently put being putting

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together a plan for what their path

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forward with AI will look like, guys.

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Yeah, Emily, very interesting comments

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from Jensen Wong there. You know,

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echoing, I think, what any number of

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people who follow us closely have been

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uh saying lately in terms of China's

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abilities. Um I would assume he's going

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to share the same um with the

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administration, with uh uh with um with

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Congress as well, in part because he's

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dealing with the possibility of sectoral

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tariffs that conceivably could hamper

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our ability in this country to continue

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to advance at the same pace.

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Exactly. And and Wong, you know, he kind

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of spoke to me about the fact that he

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has invested and does want to invest in

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the US, but when it comes to AI, it's

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not just a matter of AI specifically.

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It's a much broader ecosystem that has

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to be able to support it from the skills

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to the energy to of course the tariffs

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and to be able to build these factories

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here in the US. If Trump really wants to

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be able to onshore as he said he does,

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there is some questions about exactly

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what the outcome of his tariffs are

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going to be and whether you are going to

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be able to have that manufacturing

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return to the US in the way that he

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wants. I I guess I'm just wondering on

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the incentives if they're if they are

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aligned. Nvidia I mean obviously Nvidia

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is a big US company and and wants the US

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to win but China remains an important

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market for Nvidia after we saw that big

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write down when the chips were banned.

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Sarah, no, it's absolutely correct. I

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think there are a lot of questions as

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far as what the impact of tariffs are

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going to be and if the US is going to

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really be able to remain competitive.

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There are certainly concerns among

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lawmakers who I speak with about the

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US's ability to remain ahead of China.

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As you heard him say, China is only

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right behind us. They have a lot of

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capabilities. Um, and I think you've

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seen a lot of changes right now in how

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the various administrations have

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approached AI. Biden had a plan that he

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put forward, but the Trump

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administration has basically reversed a

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lot of that. Uh we don't know exactly

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what's next or what it looks like. And

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when I talk to folks in the AI industry,

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they say that that really needs to be

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there for the US to have a seat at the

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table and to continue to be a leader

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globally when it comes to AI standards

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and and what the policies and rules of

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the road are. Yeah, we talk a lot about

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their lead in China in EVs. today. Big

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note out of Morgan Stanley about their

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lead in robotics and humanoids.

Navigating the AI Race: Insights from NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang

In a recent encounter on Capitol Hill, Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, shared his thoughts on the future of artificial intelligence (AI) and the competitive landscape with China. He emphasized the need for the U.S. to enhance its AI capabilities while addressing the implications of tariffs on manufacturing. Huang also highlighted the importance of a robust support ecosystem for the advancement of AI technologies. This discussion echoes the broader conversation about AI's role in global competitiveness and the intricate web of policies that influence it.

The Competitive AI Landscape

Huang's remarks point to a significant theme in the tech industry: competition in AI is not just about technological prowess but also about the policies that govern innovation. With China making strides in AI development, Huang acknowledged that "China is not behind." He stated that China is rapidly advancing and is positioned closely behind the U.S. in the AI race. This assertion serves as a stark reminder that the U.S. must remain vigilant and proactive in crafting policies that support domestic innovation and competitiveness.

The Role of Tariffs in AI Development

As the dialogue unfolds regarding AI's progression in the U.S., tariffs are becoming a crucial factor. Huang opined that there should always be supportive policies that enable the U.S. to onshore manufacturing, allowing businesses to grow and thrive. The conversation around tariffs raises significant questions: Will they bolster U.S. manufacturing, or will they hinder progress by increasing costs and limiting access to essential technologies? Huang’s concerns reflect a broader sentiment among tech leaders regarding the impact of tariffs on their ability to innovate and compete globally.

The Need for a Comprehensive Ecosystem

Huang underscored that investing in AI goes beyond just technological advancement; it also requires a supportive ecosystem. According to him, the ecosystem encompasses various facets, including skilled labor, energy resources, and manufacturing capabilities. Without a holistic approach to building this ecosystem, the U.S. risks falling behind not only in AI but also in sectors that rely heavily on AI advancements.

Future Policies on AI and Manufacturing

As Huang prepares for discussions with the White House regarding AI policies, he emphasizes the necessity for a clear strategy moving forward. With different administrations adopting varied approaches to AI, the uncertainty surrounding future policies poses challenges for tech companies. Huang's perspective suggests that a unified understanding and plan for AI could galvanize efforts to bolster U.S. leadership in the sector.

China’s Advancements in AI and Software

Highlighting China's rapid progress, Huang noted that 50% of the world's AI researchers are Chinese. This statistic illustrates not only the breadth of talent in the AI field but also the potential challenges the U.S. faces. Competing with such a robust talent pool necessitates strong investments in education and research funding in the U.S. to ensure that the country can produce leading AI innovations.

The Long Game: AI as an Infinite Race

Huang's characterization of the AI race as a long-term endeavor is particularly noteworthy. He suggests that this competition is akin to a marathon rather than a sprint, where sustained effort, innovation, and resilience are paramount. This perspective shifts the focus from immediate gains to enduring strategies that foster continuous advancement in AI technologies.

Looking Ahead: U.S. Position in the Global AI Arena

As the talk around AI continues to evolve, the U.S.'s ability to maintain its position as a global leader in technology hinges on its responses to challenges posed by competitors like China. The upcoming discussions between tech leaders and lawmakers will likely shape how the U.S. approaches its AI strategy and addresses underlying issues like tariffs and manufacturing capacity.

In conclusion, Jensen Huang's insights offer vital clues into the ongoing dialogues surrounding AI competitiveness and policy development. His remarks serve as a clarion call for unified efforts to enhance the U.S.'s capabilities and ensure it remains at the forefront of the global AI race, emphasizing that the future of technology is a shared responsibility demanding collaborative action from all stakeholders. As these discussions mount, it's clear that the path ahead will require navigating complex systems while aiming for sustained growth and innovation in the dynamic field of AI.