Nvidia CEO: AI Will Be Essential to Fight AI-Fueled Misinformation

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has pointed out that artificial intelligence may be the only effective solution for combating the harmful uses of AI. Speaking at a September 27 event hosted by the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington, DC, Huang stressed that AI would be critical for detecting and shutting down AI-generated misinformation at the speed it’s produced.

“It’s going to take AI to catch the darker side of AI,” Huang said. He highlighted that the rapid pace at which AI generates false information will require equally fast AI systems to detect and counter it. Drawing a parallel to cybersecurity, Huang noted that just as cybersecurity defenses must constantly evolve, AI defenses must stay ahead of threats in a world where misinformation spreads faster than ever.

AI in Cybersecurity and Beyond

Huang also linked AI’s role in fighting disinformation to its broader role in cybersecurity. He emphasized that nearly every company is vulnerable to cyberattacks at all times, and only advanced cybersecurity measures—bolstered by AI—will help organizations defend themselves. “We just have to make sure that we stay ahead; it’s going to take AI to help us stay ahead,” he said.

Growing Concerns Over AI-Fueled Misinformation

As the U.S. gears up for the 2024 federal elections, concerns about AI-generated misinformation are mounting. A Pew Research Center survey published on September 19 found that nearly 60% of Americans, regardless of political affiliation, are “extremely” or “very” concerned about AI being used to create fake information about presidential candidates.

These concerns were underscored just days later when a U.S. intelligence official revealed that both Russia and Iran are allegedly using AI to manipulate political content, including altering speeches by Vice President Kamala Harris.

Huang's Call for Government Action

In response to these growing threats, Huang urged the U.S. government to become an active user of AI, not merely a regulator. He argued that every department, particularly the Energy and Defense departments, should embrace AI as a tool to advance national interests. Huang even floated the idea of building a U.S. government-backed AI supercomputer to drive innovation in AI algorithms and models. “The scientists would be more than happy to jump on it and create new AI algorithms to advance our country,” he said.

The Future of AI and Energy Consumption

Huang also addressed the growing energy demands associated with AI. As the volume of data required to train AI models increases, Huang speculated that future AI data centers would require significantly more energy—potentially 10 to 20 times more than current data centers. Today’s data centers already consume around 1.5% of the world’s electricity, according to the International Energy Agency.

However, Huang suggested an innovative solution: building data centers near sources of excess energy, such as renewable energy locations that are difficult to transport. “AI doesn’t necessarily care where it learns,” he said, “We can transport the data center near where there’s excess energy and use the energy there.”

AI Teaching AI

Looking ahead, Huang predicted that future AI models will increasingly rely on other AI models for learning. AI could be used to curate data, teach new models, and automate processes for creating better AI systems. This shift would accelerate AI’s development and expand its applications, but it would also heighten the importance of having AI systems in place to monitor and regulate these advancements.