Nvidia’s Jensen Huang responds to Pope Leo’s AI safety criticism— ‘We all care about the same thing’

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang addressed criticism from Pope Leo XIV regarding AI safety and regulation, affirming that the pontiff's inquiries were necessary and pertinent. Huang expressed admiration for the pope's thoughtful consideration of key issues, stating, "He’s asking all the right questions and he’s thinking about all the right issues."

Upon learning of the pope's remarks, Huang appeared optimistic about the future, highlighting Nvidia's commitment to ensuring AI serves society positively while maintaining safety and responsibility. The pontiff had criticized Huang during a September press conference, dismissing claims that AI posed existential threats as "fake news" and rebuking those who believed AI dangers were a hoax.

Huang, however, disagreed, acknowledging that he once shared the same skepticism as President Trump, but now recognized the importance of addressing AI safety concerns. Nvidia has developed software aimed at preventing AI agents from breaching containment, and Huang defended the company's efforts, emphasizing its open-source safety technology and contributions to frameworks for enhancing industry standards.

Huang also stressed that the tools Nvidia is creating could have mitigated past AI-related incidents, urging a focus on real-world applications rather than hypothetical scenarios. Despite differing viewpoints, Huang expressed a shared commitment with the pope to foster a future where AI has a positive impact on society while upholding safety, responsibility, and accountability.