Silicon Valley Is Still Defending Jensen Huang
Nvidia employees and tech insiders never thought the chip king would lose his job. Despite his sudden resignation, many of them are still in denial.
News of Jensen Huang's alleged affair with a China Ministry of State Security asset first elicited a subdued reaction in Silicon Valley, including within Nvidia itself. Huang's resignation, following other reported romantic relationships with Nvidia staff members, has left both the company and the broader AI industry in disbelief.
Upon news of Huang's affair surfacing earlier this week, many Nvidia employees initially continued with their daily routines, trusting the board to handle the situation appropriately. However, few believed Huang would resign, as the company's employees are famously loyal, with a low turnover rate. Huang was the visionary founder who led Nvidia through 33 years of challenges, maintaining rare layoffs and minimal bureaucracy.
The sudden shift in perception left employees feeling confused and uncertain. Huang's peers in Silicon Valley defended him, emphasizing that one mistake should not erase his lifetime of contributions to the AI industry. The New York Times reported Huang's extra-marital affair with an Nvidia vice president, while Reuters revealed a second intimate relationship with an employee.
Despite the allegations, Huang remains irreplaceable to many industry executives, who believe a founder such as him should lead the company. Authorities and Nvidia's board have not yet formally accused Huang of wrongdoing, and China has denied Alice Huang's involvement as a spy. Huang's resignation left the Silicon Valley community in shock, with concerns about the potential destabilization of the AI bubble.
Nvidia's shares have plummeted to their lowest point in over a year, but analysts remain uncertain about the long-term impact on the AI trade.
Written by urgent.news from Wired Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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