Nvidia’s Jensen Huang Thinks Young People Are Overlooking the Skill That Will Matter Most

Tech executive Jensen Huang wants younger generations to focus on the foundation of engineering before heading straight into the world of artificial intelligence. For decades, the Nvidia CEO has helped foster the AI boom. But as younger generations enter the space, Huang wants newcomers to focus on one discipline he believes will outlast any wave of automation: engineering. “Engineering teaches you to start from first principles, grounding everything in physics and mathematics and applying it to real problems,” Huang said in a statement to Fortune. “It teaches you to break complex challenges into solvable parts, which is how we build systems at Nvidia.” At a moment when entry-level workers face growing uncertainty about how AI will reshape their careers, Huang is urging them to bet on a skill set rooted in problem-solving and grit. “You learn that meaningful problems require resilience, as the most important outcomes often seem impossible at first,” he said. “Over time, I’ve come to see engineering as the most noble profession. It is the foundational building block of modern society, enabling everything from infrastructure to computing to science.” Engineering first Huang’s emphasis on engineering isn’t just a response to the AI boom. It’s rooted in his own career. He studied electrical engineering at Oregon State University, where he joined IEEE, the world’s largest technical professional organization. Decades later, IEEE awarded Huang its highest honor, the Medal of Honor, recognizing his role in pushing the boundaries of modern computing. At the ceremony, Huang made clear that the AI era will be defined by both disruption and expansion—and that engineers will sit at the center of both. For Huang, AI isn’t eliminating work. Instead, it’s changing who defines it. “Engineers ultimately are the ones that take an invention and advance it in such a way that it’s safe, beneficial, ultimately transformative to society,” Huang said, according to Fortune. “The engineers in the AI industry must advance AI in service of a better future for all of us.” However, not everyone is in absolute agreement with Huang’s assertion. “First-principles thinking is a powerful mental framework, and it’s something people should absolutely incorporate as AI reshapes how we work. But I wouldn’t think about engineering as the answer in absolute terms,” Juan Jose Lopez Murphy, the head of data science and artificial intelligence at Globant, told Inc. The expansion and accessibility of AI isn’t just a trend, but a historical phenomenon. According to a report from Stanford, AI reached 53 percent public adoption in just three years, faster than any technology on record. This has led to a wider use of the new capabilities, such as vibe coding, where users can approach AI software with natural language prompts to instruct an AI assistant to build applications, websites, or games without writing or reviewing the source code manually. In this new environment, some are pushing younger generations toward developing a diverse set of skills—instead of specializing. “Engineering is one of many valuable foundations, and in a world changing so quickly, over-specializing can actually make you more fragile,” said Murphy. “The most durable skill is being able to apply strong problem-solving principles across disciplines and adapt as the technology evolves.” AI fluency According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, engineering roles, from computer hardware to electrical systems, are projected to grow faster than average, with demand accelerating across AI, energy, and defense. Huang sees this moment as a meaningful opening for young professionals. “AI is expanding the scope of human work, not shrinking it. We’re busier than ever because we have more ideas to pursue, and AI makes it possible to go after them,” he told Fortune. “Jobs will change because tasks will change, but work grows with productivity.” That growth is already visible inside Nvidia itself. The company plans to double its workforce to roughly 75,000 employees over the next decade, hiring that will likely lean heavily on engineering talent, Fortune reported. But Huang’s advice doesn’t stop at choosing a major or career path. He argues that everyone, regardless of role, needs a baseline level of technical fluency. “Every young person should become an AI expert,” he said. “It is an incredible technology that significantly lowers the knowledge barrier of any professional field… AI fluency will empower you and elevate your chosen craft.” BY LEILA SHERIDAN, NEWS WRITER