Nvidia’s board opened an independent investigation on 8 November into allegations that CEO Jensen Huang had been targeted by a foreign intelligence operation, Fox Business reported. Huang acknowledged an affair with Alice Huang in a message to employees, and Nvidia said he would remain CEO during the inquiry. Three US House committee chairs have also requested a briefing on his interactions with her and the company’s safeguards against foreign espionage.
Key points
- Huang apologised to his wife, children and Nvidia staff for the affair.
- Independent directors, assisted by outside counsel, will oversee Nvidia’s inquiry.
- The board says it has no reason to believe national security or Nvidia secrets were compromised.
- House committee chairs have requested a closed-door briefing with Huang for 18 November.
Huang’s message to Nvidia staff
Huang told employees in an email on 8 November that he had had an affair and that the board was investigating allegations concerning Alice Huang. “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,” he wrote in the message Nvidia provided to Fox Business.
Alice Huang is affiliated with Megaspeed, a cloud company and Nvidia customer, and US intelligence agencies have expressed concerns that she has been passing information to Beijing, CNBC reported. Fox Business described her as a Megaspeed executive and reported that US intelligence had identified her as a Chinese intelligence asset.
The allegations about the relationship preceded Huang’s message to staff. He had described Nvidia’s dealings with Megaspeed as normal after an earlier spying report, AI Affairs reported. The admission of an affair and the board inquiry are the developments announced on 8 November.
Nvidia directors examine the allegations
Nvidia’s board said independent directors would run the investigation with help from outside independent counsel. It said it had “no reason to believe that either national security or Nvidia secrets were compromised” but would examine all available information.
The board said Huang supported the review and had committed to cooperating with it. An Nvidia spokesperson said he was committed to leading the company as CEO without interruption.
The inquiry concerns a company whose chips are subject to US export restrictions: the US limits sales of Nvidia’s most advanced AI chips to China, although it has approved exports of certain older models. Nvidia representatives previously said Megaspeed had been investigated for evading export controls. Megaspeed has been accused of helping restricted Chinese companies obtain Nvidia AI chips.
House chairs seek 18 November briefing
Secretary of State Marco Rubio had warned Trump administration officials about Huang’s ties to Alice Huang, Fox Business reported. The publication attributed that account to a New York Times report.
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast, Select Committee on China Chairman John Moolenaar and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rick Crawford have sought answers about Huang’s interactions with Alice Huang and Nvidia’s defences against foreign espionage. CNBC reported that the three chairs sent their letter to Huang on 4 November.
The three House committee chairs have requested a joint, closed-door briefing with Huang for 18 November.
