Nvidia’s Huang says programming AI is now like training a person

During a recent appearance at London Tech Week, Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang proclaimed that artificial intelligence (AI) is the 'great equalizer' in programming, enabling anyone to code using everyday language. Historically, programming has been a complex skill reserved for those who could master intricate coding languages. Huang emphasized this shift, stating, 'We had to learn programming languages. We had to architect it. We had to design these computers that are very complicated.' Huang's comments were made alongside U.K. Prime Minister Kier Starmer, highlighting the significant evolution in how we interact with technology. He introduced the idea that a new 'programming language' has emerged—one that is based on human conversation. This concept gained traction with the rise of conversational AI, particularly after the impressive launch of OpenAI's ChatGPT in 2022, which attracted approximately 400 million weekly active users by February. The CEO pointed out that while few people are proficient in traditional programming languages like C++ or Python, virtually everyone can communicate effectively in 'human.' He explained that programming today involves simply asking computers to perform tasks in a friendly manner. 'You can ask it to write a program, generate images, or even craft a poem—just ask it nicely,' he remarked. Huang demonstrated this by describing how one could instruct an AI to create a poem about his keynote speech at the event. He illustrated the process by saying, 'You are an incredible poet... I would like you to write a poem to describe today's keynote.' In return, the AI would generate a poem with minimal effort. Furthermore, Huang noted the interactive nature of this new programming approach, where users could provide feedback, prompting the AI to revise and improve its output. As organizations such as Shopify, Duolingo, and Fiverr increasingly encourage their employees to integrate AI into their workflows, Huang highlighted the growing acceptance of this technology in the workplace. OpenAI recently reported having 3 million paying business users, showcasing the rapid adoption of AI solutions. Despite concerns about AI potentially displacing jobs, Huang advocates for embracing this technology to enhance productivity and value within the workforce. He encouraged individuals to engage with AI, noting that even children are intuitively adapting to this method of interaction. 'This way of interacting with computers is something that almost anybody can do, and I would just encourage everybody to engage it,' he concluded, hinting at the transformative potential of AI in our daily lives.