Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang said the expansion of generative Artificial Intelligence will create major opportunities for workers outside the technology sector, especially in skilled trades tied to infrastructure development. In a commencement speech for Carnegie Mellon University’s class of 2026, he said electricians, plumbers, iron workers, technicians, and builders will play a central role as countries scale the physical systems needed to support Artificial Intelligence. He described the shift as more than a computing trend, calling it the start of a new industrial era and saying Artificial Intelligence gives America a chance to build again.
The comments come as major technology companies accelerate spending on the infrastructure behind Artificial Intelligence. Capital expenditures at AWS, Microsoft, Meta, and Google have risen sharply as demand for compute capacity grows. The Artificial Intelligence infrastructure will require significant investment over the next five years to keep pace with demand, according to 2025 research from McKinsey. The consultancy projects data centers will require roughly ?.7 trillion in investment by 2030 to keep pace with demand for compute capacity. Data centers designed specifically for Artificial Intelligence processing will also require a whopping ?.2 trillion in capital expenditure.
Labor market data cited alongside Huang’s remarks points to growing demand for trade work as these projects expand. Analysis from Randstad in March this year found global demand for skilled trades is growing three-times faster than professional roles. Demand for HVAC engineers and construction workers has surged 67% and 30% respectively, the consultancy found. The trend contrasts with mounting anxiety about the effect of Artificial Intelligence on white-collar and entry-level jobs, where exposure to automation is increasingly under scrutiny.
Warnings about pressure on office-based roles have intensified over the last two years. Last year, Anthropic chief executive Dario Amodei suggested that Artificial Intelligence could wipe out half of entry-level roles by the end of the decade. A March 2026 report from Anthropic also warned white-collar workers are highly exposed to Artificial Intelligence and automation. The same report found suggestive evidence that hiring of younger workers has slowed in exposed occupations, echoing SignalFire’s 2025 State of Talent report, which noted a marked reduction in tech companies hiring recent college graduates across 2024. Despite those concerns, Huang presented an optimistic view, saying the current moment offers unusually powerful tools and broad opportunities to shape what comes next.