The DLSS 5 backlash train is still rolling, and now Nvidia’s CEO has stepped in to address the issue himself. In a press Q&A at GTC 2026, Jensen Huang offered his most direct response to the outcry to date, telling critics they were "completely wrong” about the technology.
What specifically did Mr. Hwang say?
According to Tom’s Hardware, Huang dismissed the wave of criticism, insisting that DLSS 5 is not a post-processing filter added on top of the finished frame. Instead, it is a generative system that operates at the geometric level and works with the existing structure of the scene rather than redefining it.
He reinforced recent assurances from Nvidia and Bethesda, saying developers can fine-tune the generative AI to suit their artistic style and that the technology "doesn’t change artistic control.” Huang also suggested that developers could use it to create completely different looks while retaining full control over the end result.
Why are gamers so skeptical?
As we covered earlier, the backlash began shortly after DLSS 5 was released. Social media users have claimed that the technique creates a generic look that ignores the game’s original art direction. Much of the backlash focused on how DLSS 5 changed the look of the characters, with many saying the results looked closer to AI-generated images than the intended style.
That said, the main concern is that neural rendering technology could give Nvidia too much influence over how games actually look, regardless of what developers want. But developers like Nvidia and Bethesda have already rejected those claims, saying the demo only provides an early look at what the technology can do, not a final implementation. DLSS 5 is scheduled for release in the fall, so we’ll have to wait and see how things play out in practice.