This is a new development in a story we reported earlier: US intelligence officials say China's MSS recruited Alice Huang to spy on Jensen Huang. Earlier in this story: House Republican Committee chairmen ask Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang for closed-door China briefing.
Key facts
- Nvidia's board announced an independent investigation into CEO Jensen Huang after reports he was targeted by a Chinese intelligence operation on Sunday.
- Jensen Huang sent employees a memo acknowledging an affair with Alice Huang.
- Nvidia identified Alice Huang as a former Megaspeed executive based in Singapore.
- Another report described Alice Huang as an executive at Megaspeed, which it called a Chinese AI company.
Nvidia’s board ordered an independent review of chief executive Jensen Huang on Sunday, a new development after reports that a Chinese intelligence operation had targeted him, and in a memo to employees Huang acknowledged an affair with Alice Huang.
The board said no sign has emerged that national security or corporate secrets were compromised and voiced its backing for the chief executive and the company’s leadership team. Independent directors working with outside lawyers will conduct the investigation, and the board is not trying to oust Huang from the top job. Huang supports the review and promised to cooperate with investigators.
In the memo, Huang said sorry to his family and employees, noting that his behavior had hurt his wife and children, and acknowledged he had not met his obligations to the company. He said colleagues, the board, partners and shareholders all deserve better from him. Huang reportedly accepted full responsibility for the affair and said he plans to stay on as CEO. Huang told employees: “I am fully committed to Nvidia and will work to earn back your confidence.”
Nvidia said Alice Huang is a former Megaspeed executive based in Singapore. A separate report described her as an executive at the Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) company Megaspeed. A memo shared with U.S. policymakers earlier this year said China’s Ministry of State Security recruited Huang to spy on Jensen. The New York Times reported that the Trump administration suspects Huang of passing information to China’s Ministry of State Security, and China’s government denies the accusation.
Nvidia previously maintained that its chief executive’s relationship with Alice Huang was strictly professional. Earlier, the company said interactions between the chief executive and Alice Huang were not unusual and that customers do not receive classified information.
Several AI firms have told employees to guard against spies, including those who offer sex or romance. With the U.S.-China AI race intensifying, chips, particularly Nvidia’s, are a major focus. The chief executive is also close to President Donald Trump, who backs the AI industry.
The U.S. treats AI development as a national-security concern and limits sales of advanced AI chips to Chinese companies. Voters in the U.S. are increasingly disapproving of American AI companies and their big datacenter construction projects.
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