Nvidia’s board of directors announced on Sunday that it has launched an independent investigation into Chief Executive Officer and co-founder Jensen Huang, following reports that he maintained a relationship with a woman US officials believe was working for Chinese intelligence.
The move comes after The New York Times reported late last month that US intelligence officials concluded Alice Huang, a Chinese executive linked to the Singapore-based data center firm Megaspeed, had been funneling information to Beijing. The executive, also known as Huang Le and unrelated to the 63-year-old Nvidia chief, had developed a close relationship with Jensen Huang, according to the report.
In a message to employees released Sunday, Jensen Huang acknowledged the affair and apologized to his family and staff. “I was unfaithful to my wife,” he stated. “My actions hurt her and our children. There is no excuse for what I did. I am deeply sorry.”
Nvidia stated in a formal release that the inquiry was opened “in light of recent reporting that founder and CEO Jensen Huang has been the target of a foreign intelligence effort.” The company added that while the board has no reason to believe national security or company secrets were compromised, the investigation will examine all available information. The Chinese government has dismissed the allegations as “groundless speculation.”
“While the Board has no reason to believe that either national security or NVIDIA secrets were compromised, the Board’s inquiry will examine all available information.”
US President Donald Trump, who is described as a close informal adviser to Huang, said he was briefed on the intelligence findings roughly a year ago but chose not to act on them. Trump expressed confidence in Huang’s character, stating, “I don’t think so [I don’t regret not acting]. I think — you know, he’s an honorable guy. I think he probably has an excuse for it. You have to hear it.” Trump also indicated that Huang would likely join his upcoming trip to Asia for a summit in Shenzhen, where AI policy is expected to be a key topic of discussion with President Xi Jinping.
Analysts suggest the probe could have significant repercussions for the tech giant. Dan Ives of Yorkville Ives called the situation a “black eye moment” for Huang, predicting it will spark congressional inquiries and create an overhang on Nvidia’s stock. While Ives noted that Huang is expected to keep his job in the near term, he warned that the CEO risks removal depending on the board’s findings. Meanwhile, George Chen of The Asia Group cautioned that it is premature to conclude Huang poses a national security threat until the facts are fully established, noting that the key questions remain whether Huang was aware of any espionage activities and if sensitive information was compromised.
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>
