Nvidia CEO Urges Nations to Build Domestic AI Infrastructure

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang urged nations to develop domestic artificial intelligence capacity to support local economies and avoid outsourcing their intellectual intelligence. During a fireside chat with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Huang described AI infrastructure as a five-layer cake comprising energy, chips, infrastructure, AI models, and data and applications. He advised countries to strategically invest in the layers that align with their regional expertise rather than attempting to lead in every category.

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick supported this view, stating that governments must invest in data centers and infrastructure to harness AI benefits for their citizens. As an example of such domestic investment, the reports noted the Government of India's 2024 launch of the IndiaAI Mission, which allocated over Rs 10,000 crore to expand computing access and support startups.

Huang expressed specific optimism regarding India's potential, citing its established information technology industry as a strong foundation. He noted a decade of discussions on AI with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and encouraged Indian startups to contribute to the technology. Regarding governance, Huang advised regulators to focus on practical and actual harm rather than theoretical and hypothetical harm. He argued that the immediate priority must be advancing the technology to make it inherently safer, asserting that individual companies must take responsibility for safe development.