Why Nvidia's Boss Says AI Needs More Fossil Fuel Power Right Now
Nvidia chief Jensen Huang says America has not built enough fossil-fuel power plants to run new AI. He said it while talking about energy and what AI means for the planet on The Ezra Klein Show. The Verge
The show, called 'Jensen Huang Thinks A.I. Alarmism Has Gone Too Far,' came out on September 23, 2026. The New York Times The New York Times also shared a written version of the talk. The New York Times
Huang said fossil fuels are needed for the next few years because clean energy, like wind and solar, is not ready to do the job alone. His idea was simple. Use fossil fuels now, then move to cleaner power later. The Verge
He compared AI to surgery. To save a patient, a surgeon must first cut. His words were that AI must cause "an enormous amount of pain and suffering" to save people. The Verge
Huang also differs from many AI lab leaders. He does not think AI will wipe out humanity. Apple Podcasts
Earlier in September, Donald Trump phoned Huang while Huang was on stage in Los Angeles. On that call, Trump spoke against slowing down and regulating A.I. The New York Times
The broader context here is timing. AI tools are being built fast, in months. Power plants and power lines take years to approve and build. That gap forces hard choices now about using current power while cleaner supply is still being built.
In my view, Huang is talking about power plants and wires, not about how AI models are designed. He is saying America lacks enough electricity for AI. That matters because it shifts the job beyond AI companies to power companies, regulators and builders.
Looking ahead for everyday users, the choice Huang describes is painful but plain. If clean power cannot yet run all this new AI, companies must either slow down or use dirtier power for a while. Over time, technology usually learns to do more with less power. The open question is whether smarter machines and more clean power arrive fast enough to shorten this fossil-fuel stretch.
