WASHINGTON — Jensen Huang, Nvidia's chief executive, told lawmakers this week to temper "science fiction" fears surrounding artificial intelligence. His message, delivered during a series of closed-door meetings on Capitol Hill, directly challenges growing calls for preemptive AI safety legislation and aims to protect Nvidia's position as the primary hardware provider for the AI industry — one that helped push its market capitalization to $2.7 trillion.
Huang's argument centers on blocking regulations that could slow development or impose heavy compliance costs. Such measures, pushed by groups like the Future of Life Institute and some Democratic lawmakers, include mandatory licensing for large AI models and independent safety audits. Those proposals would hit Nvidia's biggest customers — OpenAI and Google among them — who depend on Nvidia chips to build their AI systems, and ultimately threaten Nvidia's revenue.
Nvidia has sharply expanded its lobbying operation this year. The company spent $4.8 million in the first half of 2026, a 60 percent increase from the same period last year, according to federal disclosure records. Its registered lobbyists — including former congressional aides placed at K Street firms like Crossroads Strategies — have focused on framing AI as a national security imperative and arguing against federal intervention.
Opposing that push are organizations like the AI Safety Center, which received $15 million in grants last year and is pressing for strong federal oversight to reduce risks from advanced AI. The group has found allies in lawmakers like Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. who has introduced legislation to create a federal AI agency with broad enforcement powers.
Nvidia shares rose 2.3 percent to $212.06, reflecting investor confidence in the company's ability to shape its regulatory environment. The Biden administration has largely favored a light-touch approach to AI regulation, aligning with Huang's position.
