By Devesh Beri
Publication Date: 2026-06-01 16:11:00
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has made headlines for criticizing company leaders who blame layoffs on AI, calling that narrative lazy and irresponsible. In an interview with Singapore-based Channel NewsAsia, Huang said that many executives connect AI to job cuts in a way that “doesn’t make any sense” and mainly wields the AI buzzword to sound smart.
“I think we’re scaring people, and that’s irresponsible,” he said.
Huang argued that generative AI has only become truly useful for businesses in the past few months, so leaders cannot honestly claim that job cuts from one or two years ago were due to AI. According to him, blaming layoffs on AI obscures the real causes of those reductions, such as over-hiring, cost-cutting strategies, or even weak leadership decisions.
Huang’s comments come as many tech and non-tech companies reference automation and AI in restructuring announcements and investor calls. While actually ditching human employees in favor of AI might cost firms more than their leaders realize, Huang doesn’t believe this is the true cause of many dramatic staffing changes.
The Nvidia chief also said that AI will probably create many new types of jobs over time, even as it changes existing roles. He also noted that leaders should focus on using AI to grow their businesses and create value, not just to cut costs.
