Stephen Witt Examines Jensen Huang, Nvidia, and AI Risk in The New York Times
08 Oct 2026
Few people have studied Jensen Huang as closely as Stephen Witt.
In a new guest essay for The New York Times, Witt draws on years of reporting and extensive interviews with the Nvidia CEO to examine Huang’s optimism about artificial intelligence, his growing influence in Washington, and the debate over how seriously leaders should take the risks of increasingly capable AI systems.
Witt describes Huang as a lifelong “systems guy” who approaches problems through engineering: understand the inputs and constraints, then work toward the desired outcome. That mindset has helped Huang build Nvidia into a company at the center of the AI boom, and Witt argues that it also shapes his views on AI safety, regulation, and technology policy.
Stephen Witt on Jensen Huang, Nvidia, and AI Risk
One of the essay’s most revealing points is the divide Witt sees between hardware and software experts. Hardware engineers often view artificial neurons as mathematical systems that can ultimately be understood and controlled through better engineering. Many software researchers, by contrast, are more concerned about how billions of those components interact to create behavior that can be difficult to interpret or predict.
That difference helps explain why Huang remains highly optimistic about AI while others in the industry are calling for stronger safeguards. Witt also examines Huang’s relationship with President Trump, arguing that the Nvidia CEO’s views have become increasingly influential in Washington’s approach to AI development and regulation.
Witt brings unusual context to this conversation. His bestselling book, The Thinking Machine, traces Nvidia’s rise and draws on extensive reporting about Huang, the company’s engineering culture, and the decisions that helped make Nvidia one of the defining forces of the AI era.
As a speaker, Witt helps audiences understand the people, companies, and technologies driving the AI revolution. His presentations connect AI, leadership, innovation, business strategy, and risk, giving organizations a clearer view of the forces reshaping industries and the decisions leaders will need to make next.