Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang resigns in blow to AI boom he helped foster

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang announced his resignation on Thursday following revelations of extramarital affairs, including one involving a suspected Chinese spy, which have plunged the chipmaker into crisis. The scandal has sent shockwaves across the AI industry, which Huang has played a pivotal role in fostering. Huang's exit is a significant blow to Nvidia, one of the leading engines behind the AI boom.

He is the company's fourth-largest shareholder, holding a 3.61% stake. Huang also had an affair with another Nvidia employee, though attempts to identify her have been unsuccessful. Nvidia declined to comment on the matter. The crisis has raised concerns about US chip export policy and the broader AI ecosystem, given Huang's efforts to preserve access to the Chinese market and his close ties with US President Donald Trump.

Huang's departure could also have implications for US President Donald Trump, with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick facing scrutiny over the administration's oversight of chip sales to China. Lutnick is under pressure to step down, with senior White House officials discussing the possibility. The White House maintains that Trump has complete confidence in Lutnick.

Huang's resignation comes after a scandal that began in October 2025, when a New York Times report linked him to Alice Huang, a former executive at a Singapore-based Megaspeed cloud partner with priority access to Nvidia's chips. Alice Huang is suspected of acting on behalf of Chinese intelligence, though Beijing has denied the claims.

Nvidia's board has launched an investigation into whether Huang was targeted by a foreign intelligence operation.