Bill Gates’ AI Warning and Nvidia’s Boffo Quarter

You couldn’t miss the disconnect in the AI discussion among major tech figures on Wednesday. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates warned in a lengthy essay about the dangers posed by the technology, noting that he would support a global slowdown in AI advances if someone had a “credible plan” for doing so. Then Nvidia, the dominant seller of AI chips, reported that its revenue more than doubled in the July quarter to $96 billion. CEO Jensen Huang’s explanation: “AI has become useful.”

Huang didn’t address Gates’ essay, but, as is usually the case, his commentary on the company’s earnings call emphasized AI's benefits for business. Much of those benefits currently accrue to Nvidia, of course, although its quarterly update demonstrated just how far it is going to help potential buyers of its chips. On top of the investments it’s making in a variety of firms buying its chips or developing AI, and financial support for data center developments, and measures like this one, Nvidia in the July quarter also extended payment terms for some buyers of its chips.