Jensen Huang says CEOs who blame AI for layoffs are giving a 'lazy' excuse
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang criticized CEOs who blame artificial intelligence for job cuts, calling the reasoning 'lazy' and 'doesn't make any sense.' He noted that generative AI tools only became broadly useful recently, while many layoffs occurred two years prior. Huang urged a balanced narrative about AI, emphasizing both its potential and the need for safe advancement. He also recounted joining President Trump on a last-minute trip to Beijing.
Article intelligence
Key points
- Huang says blaming AI for layoffs is a 'lazy' excuse used to sound smart.
- He argues AI only recently became productive, making prior layoff links illogical.
- Huang calls for a balanced AI narrative to avoid scaring people.
- He revealed a last-minute call from Trump led him to join a presidential trip to Beijing.
Why it matters
This matters because huang says blaming AI for layoffs is a 'lazy' excuse used to sound smart.
Technical impact
May affect agent architecture, tool calling, workflow automation, and product integration.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Criticizes CEOs Who Blame AI for Job Cuts - Business Insider
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says blaming AI for layoffs is "lazy."
I-Hwa Cheng/AFP/Getty Images
2026-05-25T09:57:31.177Z
Read in app
Save Saved
This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? .
Huang said it "doesn't make any sense" for companies to link layoffs to AI before generative AI tools became widely useful in the workplace.
"How is it possible that AI became productive and useful only six months ago, and they were somehow laying people off two years ago because of AI?" Huang told CNA in Taiwan.
Huang said some executives were blaming layoffs on AI "to sound smart."
"I really hate that," he said.
Discover Level Up
Take smart steps toward the goals you've been thinking about.
Try it now
Huang's comments come as companies across industries race to integrate AI tools into their businesses, while workers increasingly worry about automation replacing human jobs.
The anxiety has intensified amid a wave of tech layoffs and corporate restructuring tied to AI. The trend has also fueled debate over whether companies are genuinely replacing workers with AI or simply using the technology to justify broader cost-cutting.
Huang argued that leaders should strike a more balanced tone when discussing the technology's impact.
"I think we're scaring people and that's irresponsible," he said.
Huang said the industry should present a "balanced narrative" about AI that acknowledges both the technology's potential and the importance of advancing it safely, with proper security measures, guardrails, and supportive government and industrial policies.
"On the other hand, tell a story that's optimistic so that people want to be part of it," he added.
Huang also talked about
joining President Donald Trump on his recent trip to Beijing after receiving a last-minute call from the president.
Huang said Trump called him the morning he was leaving and "insisted" that he get on the plane, initially thinking Huang was in Washington, DC. Huang said he was on the West Coast, so Trump told him to meet Air Force One in Alaska.
"He called me in the morning — he didn't realize I wasn't going — and he insisted that I get on the plane and go," Huang said, adding he packed in a hurry.
Huang said he then flew to Alaska, boarded Air Force One, and traveled to China with a group of other US executives representing a broad range of industries.
"We were there to really represent the United States and support the president," Huang said.
AI
Jobs
Layoffs
More
Tech
HOME
Subscribe
This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? .
Jump to
Main content
Search
Account
Jump to top of page
Every time publishes a story, you’ll get an alert straight to your inbox!
Look out for an alert in your inbox the next time publishes a story!
Every time a new story is published, you’ll get an alert straight to your inbox!
Look out for an alert in your inbox the next time a new story is published!
Enter your email
By clicking “Sign up”, you agree to receive emails from Business Insider. In addition, you accept Insider’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
More stories by More stories from