Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has turned down an invite from Sen. Elizabeth Warren to testify at an upcoming Senate hearing. The session, led by the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, will explore AI’s impact on U.S. innovation and technological leadership. Warren sought Huang’s insights on Nvidia’s operations in China and export controls affecting U.S. AI technology sales abroad.
“NVIDIA sits at the center of crucial questions facing our nation regarding AI, economic competition, and national security,” Warren stated, responding to Huang’s decision. She noted Huang’s ability to attend high-profile events, implying he ought to meet Congressional queries too.
Nvidia, valued over $5 trillion, creates advanced chips integral to AI systems today. Huang has proposed discussing these issues at Nvidia’s headquarters, expressing confidence in the U.S. AI sector’s future.
Currently a member of President Trump’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, Huang has encouraged broader sales of Nvidia chips internationally. NBC News found no record of his prior Congressional testimonies. Huang highlighted the importance of U.S. companies maintaining competitive advantages globally while advocating for American companies to be first in line.
Senator Warren has voiced concerns about Huang’s lobbying potentially bolstering China’s military capacity and eroding American technological leadership. Nvidia did not reply to requests for comment on the matter.
Recently, the Commerce Department addressed an export control gap, preventing Nvidia and similar companies from exporting powerful AI chips to restricted nations. Export control discussions remain contentious in Washington, balancing innovation with security risks.
On Thursday, the Senate panel will include experts from think tanks and advocacy groups, such as The Information Technology Industry Council and the Hudson Institute. Scheduled speakers aim to dissect America’s AI export control framework and its implications.