TLDR: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang recently stated that if he were 20 years old today, he would prioritize studying physical sciences over software, emphasizing the shift towards “Reasoning AI” and “Physical AI” that requires a deep understanding of the real world.
During a recent visit to Beijing, Jensen Huang, co-founder and CEO of Nvidia, offered a surprising perspective on future academic pursuits for young graduates. When asked what he would study if he were a 20-year-old in 2025, Huang, who holds degrees in electrical engineering, indicated a preference for physical sciences over software. This pivot reflects his vision for the next evolution of artificial intelligence.
Huang’s rationale centers on the emergence of ‘Reasoning AI’ and ‘Physical AI.’ He explained that while AI has progressed from ‘Perception AI’ (focused on recognition) to ‘Generative AI’ (capable of creation and translation), the next frontier involves systems that can understand context, solve novel problems, and act as ‘agentic AI’ or digital robots with reasoning power. This advancement, he believes, necessitates a profound understanding of the physical world, including the laws of physics, friction, inertia, and cause and effect.
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Nvidia, currently valued at a historic $4 trillion market cap, is at the forefront of the AI revolution. Huang’s insights suggest that the future of AI is not solely rooted in code but increasingly in the mechanics of the real world that AI must learn to navigate and interact with. This aligns with the growing industry momentum around embodied AI, where intelligence is intrinsically linked to physical systems like robots and autonomous machines. He envisions a future where AI systems can perform tasks requiring ‘physical reasoning,’ such as object permanence, force prediction, and situational awareness, which are foundational to fields like physics, mechanics, and materials science. This shift is also seen as crucial for addressing labor shortages through advancements in robotics.
