Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang called AI cybersecurity panic a sales pitch, even as crypto attacks rose roughly 50% and more than 100 companies warned of escalating threats.
Key Points:
- Huang says security vendors benefit from amplifying AI threats before releasing products
- Crypto attacks increased roughly 50% in the first half of 2026 despite lower stolen sums
- Security firms and AI labs continue to warn that more capable systems can strengthen attackers
Jensen Huang View
Huang made the argument Thursday at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology Conference in San Francisco, where he suggested security companies have an incentive to amplify fears before releasing new products.
He said the heavy focus on cybersecurity reflects an industry preparing to sell solutions. His criticism targeted the panic around the threat, not the market itself.
“The reason why there’s so much conversation today about cybersecurity is because the industry is getting ready to launch some products, and what better way to create demand than to create a problem?” Huang said, according to Axios.
Huang also asked who would not want a market to become “hysterical” and line up for a product. At the same time, he described cybersecurity as the next major AI use case and a significant business opportunity. That leaves his argument focused on how threats are presented rather than whether cybersecurity demand exists.
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Crypto Threat Evidence
Data from crypto security researchers points to a worsening attack environment. SlowMist said attacks on crypto platforms increased roughly 50% in the first half of 2026, although total stolen funds declined.
More than 100 companies signed an August open letter warning that AI-enabled attacks could become more widespread within months. OpenAI and Anthropic were among the signatories. The warning came as security companies reported stronger demand tied to AI threats.
CrowdStrike shares jumped 20.5% in late August after record earnings, while CEO George Kurtz linked customer demand to growing AI-driven attacks. OpenZeppelin co-founder Manuel Aráoz has also argued that AI agents can probe smart contracts faster than human reviewers can clear them, raising new pressure on crypto security teams.
Huang’s position fits a broader pattern in his recent public comments on AI.
Days before the cybersecurity remarks, he said human-level AI had arrived, before OpenAI made an equivalent public claim. His comments continue to place him on the optimistic side of a debate in which security firms and AI labs warn that more capable systems can also strengthen attackers.
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