The Blubber

A 2023 survey by edX found that nearly half of CEOs believe much of their job could be automated or replaced by AI. In fact, 49% of these executives say they’re ready for AI to take over significant portions of their responsibilities. However, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang firmly disagrees with this notion. When asked if AI could replace his role, his response was unequivocal: “Absolutely not.”

Embracing AI as an Assistant, Not a Replacement

Speaking at Nvidia’s AI Summit in Mumbai, Huang shared his perspective on AI's transformative power. He acknowledged that AI can perform many tasks far more efficiently than humans—up to 1,000 times better in some cases. But he stressed that AI lacks the capability to fully replicate human roles. “As we speak, AI has no possibility of doing what we do,” he stated, emphasizing that AI is a tool for assistance, not a substitute.

Workers vs. Executives: A Gap in AI Perceptions

The edX survey highlights a disconnect between workers and top executives regarding AI’s role in the workplace. While 49% of CEOs are open to automating large parts of their roles, only 20% of workers feel the same about their own jobs. Huang, unlike many of his peers, isn’t among those offering up their positions for automation.

Instead, he champions the use of AI as a way to enhance productivity. He suggests AI could handle 20-50% of certain tasks, enabling workers to focus on higher-level responsibilities. “The person who uses AI to automate that 20% is going to take your job,” Huang warned, underscoring the importance of learning to work with AI tools.

AI’s Broader Impact

Goldman Sachs estimates that AI could potentially replace up to 300 million jobs globally, particularly in administrative roles. Still, Huang and other experts emphasize the collaborative potential of AI, which they argue could boost productivity without rendering human workers obsolete.

Challenges in Adapting to AI

The survey also revealed concerns among executives about their companies’ readiness for an AI-driven future. Nearly half of C-suite leaders worry that their workforce’s current skills will become irrelevant within a few years, while more than three-quarters say AI is disrupting their business plans. Additionally, 87% admit they’re struggling to find employees with the necessary AI expertise.

Huang, however, remains confident in his role and the human-centric approach to leadership, highlighting the importance of leveraging AI as a partner rather than a replacement.