NVIDIA Board Opens Investigation Into CEO Jensen Huang’s Affair With Alleged Chinese Spy

NVIDIA, a leading US chip manufacturer, has launched an investigation into its CEO Jensen Huang following reports of an extramarital affair with a Chinese national suspected of spying for the Chinese government. The company's board has appointed a committee of independent directors and outside counsel to oversee the probe, emphasizing the importance of US national and economic security.

The board stated that there is currently no evidence suggesting that national security or company secrets were compromised, but they vowed to thoroughly examine all available information. The allegations stem from a recent New York Times report, which claimed that a Chinese national named Alice Huang, or Huang Le, had been funneling information to Beijing.

It is important to note that Alice Huang, who has no connection to Jensen Huang, served as an executive at Megaspeed, a Singapore-based data centre company that also serves as an NVIDIA chip customer. US authorities have been scrutinizing Megaspeed since 2024 due to concerns over potentially smuggled hardware. Surveillance of Alice Huang revealed her relationship with Jensen Huang, though the specifics of any information allegedly passed to China remain unclear.

NVIDIA initially denied the allegations, stating that the interactions were ordinary business and that the smuggling claims against the firm had been investigated and debunked. The Chinese government also dismissed the report as "groundless speculation." Jensen Huang released a statement acknowledging the affair and apologizing to his family, colleagues, and the NVIDIA board, emphasizing his commitment to the company and his support for the ongoing investigation.