"That's Just Not What DLSS 5 Is Trying To Do:" NVIDIA CEO Continues to Defend Controversial AI Announcement
The announcement of NVIDIA DLSS 5 might be the most controversial moment in the video game industry so far in 2026. Fans immediately took to social media to voice their concerns about the new software's alleged use of generative AI to change art direction and game visuals, but NVIDIA's CEO, Jensen Huang, is publicly defending the upcoming AI software again.
In a conversation on Lex Fridman's podcast, Huang stated that he understood why many gamers were upset, but that the intention of DLSS 5 is purer than gamers are giving it credit for. "I think their perspective makes sense. And I could see where they're coming from, because I don't like AI slop myself," said Huang. He added, "You know, all of the AI-generated content increasingly looks similar, and they're all beautiful, so I'm empathetic towards what they're thinking."
However, after that statement, Huang quickly came to the defense of DLSS 5, saying, "that's just not what DLSS 5 is trying to do," in response to gamers' concerns that the software would remove creative freedom and artistic expression from game developers' visions.
According to Huang, DLSS 5 "enhances but does not change" gameplay visuals or cutscenes in video games. The intent is to give developers the tool of generative AI, but they can decide whether or not to use it, said Huang.
Previously, Huang stated that gamers were "completely wrong" about DLSS 5, after the huge blowback from fans and a lot of memes and mockery on social media.
The DLSS 5 announcement saw immediate backlash from gamers who noted that the DLSS 5 generative AI software made the games demonstrated in the announcement look drastically different than what was originally designed by the developers.
The first game that was shown in the demonstration was Resident Evil Requiem, and fans were very quick to notice that the protagonist, Grace Ashcroft, looked like she had a completely different face, with many fans classifying the poor design as an Instagram filter.
NVIDIA DLSS 5 is scheduled to be released sometime this fall.