SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 4 (GeokHub) — Nvidia Chief Executive Jensen Huang on Wednesday dismissed growing concerns that artificial intelligence could make traditional software tools obsolete, calling the idea fundamentally flawed amid a sharp global selloff in technology stocks.
Speaking at an artificial intelligence conference in San Francisco, Huang said AI systems are designed to depend on existing software tools, not replace them, arguing that fears of widespread displacement misunderstand how modern AI actually functions.
“There’s a notion that software tools are in decline and will be replaced by AI,” Huang said. “That thinking is illogical. Progress in AI has always been about using tools, not reinventing them.”
Market Anxiety Spreads Across Regions
Huang’s remarks came after a wave of selling swept through global software shares, triggered by heightened concerns over automation following the launch of new AI productivity tools by a leading U.S. artificial intelligence developer.
The selloff intensified on Wednesday, hitting technology services firms across Asia, with particularly sharp declines in India, Japan and China. Indian IT exporters saw some of the steepest losses, while software and staffing firms in Japan and Chinese markets also came under pressure.
AI Built to Use Tools, Not Replace Them
Huang emphasized that both humans and intelligent machines rely on tools to function efficiently, noting that the latest advances in AI focus on tool integration, not eliminating software infrastructure.
“If you’re human, robotic, or artificial intelligence, the rational approach is to use tools,” he said. “That’s why breakthroughs today are about tool usage — because these tools already exist and are built with precision.”
He added that AI models do not recreate core software systems from scratch, but instead enhance productivity by working alongside them.
Reassurance Amid Rising Automation Fears
Investor unease has grown in recent weeks as AI capabilities expand into areas such as coding, data analysis and professional services — sectors traditionally supported by large human workforces.
However, Huang said these concerns overlook the collaborative role AI plays in the software ecosystem, positioning artificial intelligence as an accelerator of software demand, rather than a replacement for it.
