Written by: Techub News
At Carnegie Mellon University's 2026 commencement ceremony, NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang was invited to deliver the keynote speech. Standing on a campus that "invents the future," he reflected on his immigrant experience, entrepreneurial journey, and thoughts on the era of artificial intelligence, while extending a warm invitation to young people about to enter society: Put your heart into your work, and in the AI era, "run, don't walk."
Starting with a Mother's Dream: This Is Her Day
At the beginning of his speech, Huang greeted the president, board of trustees, professors, guests, and parents, emphasizing that this day belongs not only to the graduates but also to the families and teachers who have supported them along the way. He specifically asked the graduates to stand up, turn around, and say "Happy Mother's Day" to their mothers, reminding everyone: For graduates, this is just another step in their life's journey, but for many parents, it is the culmination of years of hard work and hope, a truly "dreams come true" day.
He then turned the topic to his own parents. "My journey is also their journey; I am their dream come true, and their dream was the American Dream." This opening, starting from family and affection, set a sincere and warm tone for the entire speech.
The American Dream of an Immigrant Boy
Huang recounted his growth experience as a first-generation immigrant. His father wanted to create a better future for his children in the United States, so when he was 9 years old, he and his brother were sent to a Baptist boarding school called Oneida in Kentucky—a small town, a coal mining area, with a population of just a few hundred people.
Two years later, his parents left everything behind in their homeland and came to America, starting over with almost nothing. His father was a chemical engineer, while his mother worked as a cleaner at a Catholic school, and also woke him up at 4 a.m. to deliver newspapers together. His brother helped him get a job as a dishwasher at the Denny's restaurant chain; at the time, he felt it was already "a big step in his career."
In his memory, America was not easy, but it was full of opportunities. There were no guarantees, but there was always a "chance to strive for." His parents came here because they believed America could give their children a chance. It was this belief in opportunity that supported the family struggling in a foreign land and profoundly shaped his subsequent life choices.
From an Ordinary College Student to an Entrepreneur
After recounting his childhood experiences, Huang mentioned that he later attended Oregon State University, where he truly embarked on the path of engineering and computing. This learning experience exposed him to cutting-edge technologies such as computer graphics, chips, and parallel computing, laying the groundwork for the birth of NVIDIA.
He did not portray himself as a typical "genius with a smooth ride" story, but repeatedly emphasized: Opportunities are never pre-scripted; they are "created" through repeated attempts and choices. This echoed his early experiences working in restaurants, delivering newspapers, and doing odd jobs—many seemingly ordinary or even arduous tasks ultimately became his starting point for understanding society, responsibility, and teamwork.
The AI Era: The Dawn of a New Industrial Revolution
Turning to the present, he shifted the topic to artificial intelligence. He pointed out that today's graduates are standing at a new starting line: a new industry is being born, and a new era of science and discovery is beginning. Artificial intelligence will greatly accelerate the expansion of human knowledge, helping us solve many problems that were difficult to address in the past.
In his view, AI brings not only industrial transformation but also an opportunity to bridge the "technology gap." With the computational and intelligent capabilities of AI, powerful tools can be brought to billions of people around the world who are truly accessing high-performance computing for the first time. This can not only help with reindustrialization and rebuilding manufacturing capabilities but also create a future that is richer, more capable, and more hopeful than the world inherited by the previous generation.
He emphasized that no previous generation, like the Class of 2026, has had such powerful tools and such vast opportunities upon leaving campus. On the AI track, "we are all standing at the same starting line," and the key is who will truly commit to it.
Facing AI: Four Things Beyond Fear
Huang did not shy away from society's concerns about AI but posed a simple question: "Do we want our children to be empowered by AI, or to be left far behind by those who know how to use AI?" He pointed out that no parent wants their child to be left behind by the times, so we must choose to face the challenge head-on: acknowledging the risks while actively shaping the future.
He summarized four things that need to be done simultaneously in the AI era:
- Advance technology safely.
- Develop thoughtful, prudent policies.
- Make AI widely accessible, not just in the hands of a few who can code.
- Encourage everyone to participate, not just watch from the sidelines.
In his view, "everyone should have AI," and opportunities should not belong only to those who understand technology. This was both a call to policymakers and a reminder to the engineers, scientists, and product builders present.
A Message for the Class of 2026: Run, Don't Walk
Towards the end of his speech, Huang returned to the graduates. He said everyone present today is at an extraordinary historical juncture:
- A new industry is sprouting.
- A new scientific era is opening its doors.
- No generation has been so "empowered" by such powerful tools upon leaving school as you have.
"This is the moment for you to help shape 'what's next.'" He delivered a short but powerful message to the graduates: "So—run, don't walk."
He specifically quoted Carnegie Mellon University's motto—"My heart is in the work." He encouraged the graduates to:
- Truly put your heart into your work and career.
- Do something worthy of your education, potential, and talent.
- And be worthy of those who believed in and supported you when you were unknown.
Amidst warm applause, he congratulated the Class of 2026, wishing them to fully commit and run bravely in the AI era full of "heat" and "energy."
