As artificial intelligence (AI) transforms workplaces around the world, most people are asking the same question: What skills will still matter when AI can do so much? According to Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) CEO Lisa Su, the answer isn’t simply learning how to use AI tools.
Su recently told graduates on Thursday, May 28, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology that technical knowledge alone won’t be enough in the AI era.
“The world does not just need people who know how to use powerful tools,” she said. Instead, Su argued that future leaders will be defined by their purpose, judgment, courage, and ability to solve meaningful problems.
Her comments arrive at a pivotal moment for both the labor market and AMD’s business. AI adoption is accelerating across industries, creating demand not only for AI skills, but also for the computing infrastructure that powers those systems.
And that’s exactly where AMD is seeing significant growth.
Lisa Su says people will shape the future, not AI
Speaking to MIT’s Class of 2026, Su emphasized that every major technological shift has transformed society.
The internet changed communication. Mobile computing changed how people live. Cloud computing transformed work.
But AI, she argued, could be even more impactful because it has the potential to accelerate breakthroughs across medicine, science, energy, and climate research. Still, she cautioned that technology itself does not determine outcomes.
AI can process information and generate answers, but it cannot decide which problems deserve attention or take responsibility for the consequences of those decisions. Those responsibilities remain firmly in human hands.
Su’s message echoes similar comments from Jensen Huang and Sam Altman, both of whom have stressed the importance of judgment, creativity, and critical thinking in an AI-driven economy.
AMD reported revenue of $10.3 billion in Q1 2026 on May 5, with Data Center revenue surging 57% year over year to $5.8 billion.Bloomberg via Getty Images
Why Su’s thoughts on AI matter for AMD’s business
For investors, Su’s comments aren’t just philosophical. They directly connect to AMD’s growth strategy. Why? The company has become one of the biggest beneficiaries of the global AI boom.
In the first quarter of 2026, the company reported revenue of $10.3 billion, while Data Center revenue surged 57% year over year to $5.8 billion, according to AMD’s press release.
In the same statement, management also said demand for AMD EPYC processors and Instinct AI accelerators continued to accelerate. More importantly, the Data Center segment has become AMD’s primary growth engine.
“Data Center is now the primary driver of our revenue and earnings growth,” Su said during the company’s earnings report.
That trend highlights a key reality. Every company racing to deploy AI needs enormous computing power. AMD supplies much of the hardware that enables those workloads.
As businesses invest in AI applications, demand for AMD’s processors, GPUs, networking products, and software ecosystem could continue rising.
AMD is massively expanding its AI footprint
The company has spent the past several months deepening relationships with some of the world’s largest technology companies.
One of the most notable developments came from Meta, which plans to deploy up to 6 gigawatts of AMD Instinct GPUs and become a lead customer for AMD’s next-generation EPYC server processors, according to AMD’s press release.
The company is also working with partners in India, including Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), South Korea, and telecommunications markets, as governments and enterprises build sovereign AI infrastructure.
As AMD reported, these projects could help support AMD’s outlook for second-quarter 2026 revenue of approximately $11.2 billion, representing roughly 46% year-over-year growth.
How AMD compares with Nvidia
Many investors naturally compare AMD’s AI opportunity with Nvidia‘s. This is because many understand AI through Nvidia (NVDA).
While Nvidia remains the industry’s dominant AI hardware provider, AMD continues gaining traction.
More AI:
On May 20, Nvidia reported first-quarter fiscal 2027 revenue of $81.6 billion, up 85% from a year ago, including record Data Center revenue of $75.2 billion, up 92% from a year ago. Those numbers underscore the enormous size of the AI market.
For AMD, the opportunity isn’t necessarily about matching Nvidia’s scale overnight. Instead, it’s about capturing a growing share of a rapidly expanding market as customers seek alternative suppliers and diversified AI infrastructure.
In fact, the company’s recent partnerships suggest that the strategy is gaining momentum.
AMD stock has also delivered exceptional returns
Investors have already benefited from AMD’s AI-driven growth story.
As of June 1, 2026, AMD shares have dramatically outperformed the broader market:
YTD return: 138.2% gain versus 11.0% gain for the S&P 500
One-year return: 360.7% gain versus 28.6% gain for the S&P 500
Three-year return: 327.0% return versus 80.1% gain for the S&P 500
Five-year return: 531.3% return versus 80.9% gain for the S&P 500 Source: Yahoo Finance
Those gains reflect growing confidence that AMD can remain one of the biggest winners from the AI infrastructure buildout.
Su’s message to graduates was simple. Learning AI tools matters, but judgment matters more. That perspective aligns closely with AMD’s position in the market.
As companies increasingly deploy AI, demand for advanced computing infrastructure continues to rise. AMD is supplying the processors and accelerators helping power that transition, while simultaneously benefiting from one of the strongest growth trends in technology.
For shareholders, the key question isn’t whether AI adoption will continue. The focus is on whether AMD can keep converting that demand into sustained revenue growth, market share gains, and long-term profitability.
So far, the company’s results suggest it is doing exactly that.
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