Jensen Huang took a call from Trump, and showed off something else, too

Nvidia's AI chips may power parts of Apple's new AI features, signaling a potential shift in their long-standing hardware relationship.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang received a surprise phone call from former President Donald Trump during a TechCrunch Disrupt event. Huang answered the call on a yet-to-be-released foldable Apple phone, which is slated for release in five weeks. During their conversation, which was broadcast live, both Huang and Trump expressed skepticism about the severity of AI safety concerns, with Trump labeling them a "hoax" and arguing that slowing down AI development would benefit China and political opponents. Huang appeared to agree with Trump's sentiment, noting the audience's applause. The article suggests that Huang's downplaying of AI risks aligns with Nvidia's business model, which relies on AI labs purchasing more of its chips. Despite the focus on the Trump call, the presence of the unreleased Apple device also highlighted a potential shift in the relationship between Apple and Nvidia, with Apple's upcoming 'Apple Intelligence' potentially utilizing Nvidia hardware.

The public appearance of unreleased Apple hardware during a call with a former president underscores the growing intersection of high-stakes technology and political discourse. Huang's handling of the situation, fielding a call on a device not yet available to consumers while simultaneously discussing AI's future with a figure like Trump, frames these technologies as central to both business and societal conversations. This event simultaneously highlights Apple's new hardware strategy and Nvidia's foundational role in the AI ecosystem, even as Apple has historically sought to reduce reliance on third-party chip providers.

This moment suggests a potential reconciliation or strategic interdependence between Apple and Nvidia, two giants who have historically competed and diverged. After a decade of Apple phasing out Nvidia's GPUs, the prospect of Apple Intelligence running on Nvidia hardware indicates a significant shift. This collaboration could redefine the competitive landscape for AI hardware and software integration, potentially influencing other tech companies to re-evaluate their own supply chains and strategic partnerships in the burgeoning AI market.