Nvidia’s board will probe CEO Jensen Huang’s relationship with an alleged spy. Here’s what to know.

Chinese intelligence service recruit is alleged to have targeted Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, according to a report by The New York Times. The Times cited a memo circulated among Trump administration policymakers. Three House Republican committee chairs have requested a private meeting with Huang to discuss the alleged ties to a Chinese businesswoman suspected of providing information to Beijing. Nvidia has dismissed the allegations as "baseless."

A top executive at a Singapore-based data centre firm, identified as Alice Huang or Huang Le, has come under intense scrutiny amid the probe. According to the report, surveillance revealed that she maintained a close association with Huang. Huang, the CEO of Nvidia, has expressed uncertainty about his confidence in her as an adviser on US technology policy due to the alleged links with the Chinese businesswoman.

Trump, in an interview, stated he would continue to support Huang but would wait for further information before making a final judgment. The US president expressed hope that Huang would be cleared of any suspicion and vowed to investigate the matter closely.

Huang has been praised by Trump as a "great and brilliant person" in the field of chips. During Trump's second term, the CEO successfully lobbied the administration to reverse stricter export controls on Nvidia's chip shipments to China. Additionally, he finalized a deal allowing the US government to secure a 25% stake in specific Nvidia processors authorized for sale to China.

The Trump administration was considering a comprehensive ban on Nvidia chip exports to China at the time. Huang and his spouse traveled to Mar-a-Lago to persuade Trump to allow technology firms to continue doing business with Beijing.