Nvidia board investigates Jensen Huang ties to possible Chinese spy

Nvidia's board of directors announced Sunday that it is launching an independent investigation after reports that CEO Jensen Huang was targeted by a Chinese spy operation. The move follows reports that Huang admitted an affair with Alice Huang, a former executive at Singapore-based chip company Megaspeed. The board has no reason to believe national security or company secrets were compromised.

Reports about Alice Huang

Bloomberg and other outlets reported that Huang sent a message to the company admitting that he had an affair with Alice Huang. A memo circulated among U.S. policymakers earlier this year claimed that Alice Huang had been recruited by China's Ministry of State Security to spy on Nvidia's CEO. "I owe my family and all of you an apology," Jensen Huang wrote. "I was unfaithful to my wife. My actions hurt her and our children. There is no excuse for what I did. I am deeply sorry." Huang added that he had "fallen short" of his responsibility to the company. "To my colleagues at NVIDIA, including those I have worked alongside for decades, and to our board, partners, and shareholders around the world: you deserve better from me," he said.

Board response

In its announcement, Nvidia's board said it has "no reason to believe" that either national security nor company secrets were compromised, and that Huang "fully supports the review and has committed to cooperating with it." The board also said it has "confidence in Jensen and his leadership team." The investigation will be conducted by independent directors working with outside legal counsel. In response to earlier reports about the CEO's relationship with Alice Huang, Nvidia had said that the pair's interactions were "not unusual," and that the company does not share classified information with customers.

Wider context

AI chips, including those created by Nvidia, have been a focus in the trade war between the United States and China. Huang also seems to have a close relationship with President Donald Trump, who has been a cheerleader of the AI industry. Other companies involved in the AI boom have warned employees to be wary of possible spies, including those offering sex or romance.

Sources: TechCrunch · The Verge