[CES 2026] Even Jensen Huang Trembled on Stage: "I Never Expected This"

Acceptance Speech for the IEEE Medal of Honor
Standing Shoulder to Shoulder with Legends of Semiconductors

"It was not something that could be imagined within the realm of reasonable planning. I never expected that the company we built would become the most valuable in the world, or that we would reinvent computing."

Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, is giving his acceptance speech for the IEEE Medal of Honor. Photo by Paek Jongmin, Tech Specialist

On January 6 (local time), at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas, where CES 2026-the world’s largest electronics and IT exhibition-is being held, Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, took the stage as the recipient of the 2026 IEEE Medal of Honor. His demeanor was completely different from just a few hours earlier.

The IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), the world’s largest professional organization for technology with over 500,000 members and a mission of “advancing technology for humanity,” seemed to weigh heavily on him as he received its highest honor, the Medal of Honor. Throughout the ceremony, he appeared visibly tense, and his voice trembled slightly.

The IEEE Medal of Honor, established in 1917, is the most prestigious award given only to those who have made profound contributions to humanity in the fields of engineering and science. More than a recognition of achievements, this award is regarded as the "Nobel Prize of technology," officially recognizing its recipients as historical figures in the field.

The IEEE explained its decision by stating, "Jensen Huang's technological vision has enabled modern generative artificial intelligence (AI) and is fundamentally transforming all industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, and engineering."

A look at the list of past recipients reveals why CEO Huang was so nervous. This "Hall of Honor" includes legends who have shaped the history of semiconductors and electronics: William Shockley, inventor of the transistor (1980); Jack Kilby, father of the integrated circuit (IC) (1986); Robert Noyce (1978), Gordon Moore (2008), and Andrew Grove (2000), who built the Intel legacy; Irwin Jacobs, founder of Qualcomm and pioneer of digital communications (2013); Morris Chang, founder of TSMC and creator of the foundry business model (2011); and Professor Chenming Hu, who opened the era of advanced processing with 3D semiconductor FinFET technology (2020).

Following in the footsteps of these giants, CEO Huang has been officially recognized as a historic figure who pioneered the transition from the "CPU-centric era" to the "GPU-centric AI era," thus completing a new chapter in the history of semiconductors.

CEO Huang delivered his acceptance speech calmly, though his voice trembled. He attributed his success not to his own genius, but to "perseverance" and his "colleagues." He also reflected on his family.

He said, "Engineering is, at its core, about solving problems using the principles of physics and mathematics. The most noble profession is to break down incredibly difficult problems into manageable pieces and, through resilience and dedication, achieve what once seemed impossible."

CEO Huang recalled, "During my university days, I had no choice but to be assigned a lab partner, who is now my wife. Persuading her to do homework together every Sunday completely changed my life." He continued, "She became the foundation of a beautiful family and gave me the opportunity to dream bigger and more ambitious dreams," expressing his gratitude.

He reflected on the past 30 years, saying, "No engineer could ever imagine that their professional journey would ultimately lead to reinventing computing and founding a company that would drive the industrial revolution we now call AI."

After about ten minutes of heartfelt remarks, CEO Huang concluded by saying, "This award belongs not to me, but to my colleagues who have shared the lifelong work that is NVIDIA."

Even though CEO Huang made CES 2026 his own stage, perhaps this particular moment felt overwhelming. As he left the stage, visibly relieved, he pumped his fist in a gesture of accomplishment, as if to say, 'We did it.'