Nvidia CEO Advocates for Increased Power Generation in Japan to Support AI Development
Nvidia Corporation’s CEO Jensen Huang met with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on April 21, 2025, to advocate for enhanced electricity generation to meet the growing demands of artificial intelligence.
After their meeting in Tokyo, Huang highlighted Japan’s advantageous position for AI development due to its expertise in robotics and industrial manufacturing. However, he emphasized that advancing AI capabilities will necessitate significant energy resources. “The country needs to build new infrastructure,” Huang stated, opting for a formal blue suit and tie instead of his usual black leather jacket. “Energy is essential for all industrial growth.”
Japan, which has limited natural resources, is currently balancing the electricity demands of data centers against the political and logistical challenges of restarting nuclear reactors that were decommissioned following the Fukushima disaster. There’s also consideration of increasing imports of expensive fossil fuels. Prime Minister Ishiba mentioned that Japan is exploring investment in a $44 billion liquefied natural gas project in Alaska as part of potential trade negotiations with the US.
Huang underscored that AI is poised to revolutionize various sectors, including healthcare, manufacturing, education, and agriculture. However, according to the International Energy Agency, the infrastructure required for data centers and cooling systems is expected to drive the fastest growth in electricity demand in recent years.
This meeting followed Huang’s recent trip to Beijing, amid heightened tensions stemming from US President Donald Trump’s decision to prohibit Nvidia from selling its H20 AI chips to China. This escalation reflects ongoing US-China tech rivalries and specifically targets a product line that Nvidia developed for the Chinese market under previous US export regulations.
Last week, Nvidia warned of a potential $5.5 billion writedown due to the newly imposed US chip restrictions. Furthermore, a bipartisan US House committee has urged the company to provide details about its chip sales in Southeast Asia and China, suggesting that these chips may have contributed to the advancements made by the Chinese AI startup DeepSeek in creating its highly regarded chatbot.
