 "In recent years, NVIDIA and Huang have become giants in the chip industry. With their sales booming, Huang has taken NVIDIA to new heights, with the company now being the world’s most valuable chipmaker, second only to Apple in overall tech company rankings. Image Credit: Reuters")
Jensen Huang, the CEO of NVIDIA, is set to miss President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20, going against the trend of other major tech leaders who plan to attend the event.
Huang is currently in East Asia, where he often travels around the time of the Lunar New Year. It’s reported that this will be the first time Huang has missed a presidential inauguration, as he’s never attended one before.
In contrast to Huang, several other prominent figures from the tech world are making their way to Washington for the ceremony. These include Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, Jeff Bezos, co-founder of Amazon, and Elon Musk, the head of Tesla. Notably, Musk is seen as a close ally of Trump. Despite not attending the event, Huang has expressed his willingness to work with the new administration, saying he would be happy to meet Trump and contribute to its success, although he has yet to receive an invitation to Trump’s Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago.
NVIDIA’s stance on Trump’s administration
Huang has previously stated his belief that less regulation could be beneficial, particularly for the fast-moving tech industry. He welcomed the prospect of fewer regulatory hurdles under Trump’s leadership, viewing it as a positive for innovation.
However, NVIDIA is currently facing a wave of new rules from the Biden administration, especially regarding access to its advanced technology, including the highly sought-after AI chips. These rules aim to limit China’s access to such technology, which has caused some tension within the industry.
Concerns over export curbs
NVIDIA is not entirely pleased with the latest set of regulations aimed at restricting the flow of technology. Company representatives have called the new export controls an “overreach” and warned of disastrous consequences for the tech industry. They’ve also highlighted the potential for these rules to hurt America’s competitiveness.
As NVIDIA’s vice president of government affairs, Ned Finkle, put it, the US should focus on sharing its innovations with the world, rather than retreating behind a wall of regulatory barriers.
NVIDIA’s growing influence and AI leadership
In recent years, NVIDIA and Huang have become giants in the chip industry. With their sales booming, Huang has taken NVIDIA to new heights, with the company now being the world’s most valuable chipmaker, second only to Apple in overall tech company rankings.
Huang’s presence has become a fixture in global discussions about artificial intelligence, often seen promoting the technology in his signature leather jacket. Despite his absence at the inauguration, Huang’s influence in the tech world remains undeniable.