Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has publicly criticized Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei over his recent claims regarding the potential impact of artificial intelligence on entry-level white-collar jobs. During VivaTech in Paris, Huang expressed his disagreement with Amodei’s predictions that AI could eliminate 50% of these jobs, potentially causing unemployment to surge to 20% within five years.
Huang stated that he “pretty much disagree[s] with almost everything” Amodei said, according to Fortune. He outlined three main points of contention: Amodei’s belief that AI is so powerful and dangerous that only Anthropic should develop it, that AI is too expensive for others to pursue, and that it will inevitably lead to widespread job loss. Huang countered that AI is a crucial technology that should be developed openly and responsibly.
“If you want things to be done safely and responsibly, you do it in the open… Don’t do it in a dark room and tell me it’s safe,” Huang emphasized. This exchange highlights the differing approaches between Nvidia and Anthropic towards AI development. Anthropic, founded by Amodei and former OpenAI employees in 2021, focuses on creating AI with a safer and more ethical approach due to concerns about the potential risks of advanced AI systems.
Anthropic responded to Huang’s criticism, clarifying that Amodei never suggested that only Anthropic should build safe and powerful AI. They stated that Amodei has advocated for a national transparency standard for AI developers to keep the public and policymakers informed about AI capabilities and risks. Amodei stands by his concerns about AI’s economic impact, particularly on entry-level jobs.
The disagreement between the two CEOs underscores their different perspectives on AI. Amodei takes a more cautious stance, focusing on the risks AI poses to average workers and urging lawmakers to prepare for the potential disruption. In contrast, Huang acknowledges that while AI will make some jobs obsolete and change many careers, it will also create new opportunities and lead to increased productivity, potentially resulting in more job openings as companies expand their operations.
