Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang calls AI the ‘greatest equalizer of our time', predicts it will create more millionaires than the internet

Economic Times

2 days ago

Synopsis
Nvidia's CEO, Jensen Huang, predicts AI will create more millionaires in the next five years than the internet did in twenty, democratizing wealth creation by making everyone a programmer, artist, and author. He envisions companies operating both physical and digital factories, with small AI teams generating billions in value.
Reuters Nvidia's CEO, Jensen Huang, predicts AI will create more millionaires in the next five years than the internet did in twenty, democratizing wealth creation by making everyone a programmer, artist, and author. He envisions companies operating both physical and digital factories, with small AI teams generating billions in value. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is no stranger to making bold claims, but his latest prediction might just redefine how we view the next era of innovation. Speaking on the All-In podcast hosted by venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya, Huang forecasted that 'AI will create more millionaires in five years than the internet did in 20.'
In an era where AI is evolving faster than policy and public understanding can keep pace, Huang's perspective offers both a reality check and a roadmap for those hoping to ride the next tech wave. The takeaway? The AI revolution is already here, and those who don't adapt may be left behind.
When asked why he calls AI the 'greatest technology equaliser,' Huang responded with a transformative view: 'Everybody is a programmer now.' According to the Nvidia CEO, the traditional gatekeeping of coding languages like C++ or Python has faded. With AI interfaces, people now only need to express an idea in natural language to create something powerful. 'Everybody is an artist now; everybody is an author now,' Huang said, explaining that AI bridges the gap between imagination and execution. The CEO believes this accessibility will democratize wealth creation, empower creatives, and allow smaller teams to deliver enterprise-level impact.
Huang believes that in the near future, every company will operate two factories—one physical and one digital. 'Tesla builds cars in one factory, and in another, it builds the AI that powers them,' he explained. This model, he claims, will soon apply to every major industrial business, not just tech startups.
And the scale? Staggering. Nvidia plans to produce about $500 billion worth of AI supercomputers in Arizona and Texas over the next four years. These machines are expected to drive trillions in economic value across industries. In a conversation during the Hill and Valley Forum, Huang revealed the financial impact of compact, focused AI teams. Citing examples like OpenAI and China's DeepSeek—each initially staffed with about 150 researchers—Huang estimated these teams can produce value worth $20 to $30 billion, or roughly $200 million per person. 'No industry in history has ever had this kind of leverage,' he asserted, underlining how mid-sized teams, when backed with the right resources, can transform markets at lightning speed. In fact, Huang noted, 'I've created more billionaires on my management team than any CEO in the world. They're doing just fine.'
In an unexpected insight into Nvidia's internal culture, Huang also shared his hands-on approach to employee compensation. He confirmed that he personally reviews every proposed salary and stock grant at the company—yes, all 42,000 employees—and uses machine learning to sort through recommendations. '100% of the time, I increase the company's spend on OpEx,' Huang said, 'because you take care of people, and everything else takes care of itself.' And yes, he jokingly added, he does 'carry stock options in his pocket.' Huang issued a word of caution for professionals stuck in old ways. 'Anybody who is not using AI is going to lose their jobs to someone with knowledge of AI,' he said. This wasn't framed as a threat, but rather a reflection of the new baseline in skill development.
For those who've long felt tech was inaccessible, AI may offer an unexpected second chance to get ahead. 'The barrier between idea and execution has collapsed,' Huang declared.