Nvidia probes whether CEO Jensen Huang was target of foreign spying as he admits affair

• Nvidia is investigating whether CEO Jensen Huang was targeted by foreign spying after a report linked him to a Chinese businesswoman and Megaspeed, which is under US scrutiny.
• Huang admitted he was unfaithful to his wife, said he took “full responsibility”, and promised to keep leading Nvidia while cooperating with the board review.
• The case adds pressure on Nvidia, already hit by AI market fears, and may trigger more US congressional scrutiny over chip sales to China.

SAN FRANCISCO - Nvidia said on Nov 8 it is probing whether CEO Jensen Huang has been the target of a foreign intelligence effort, after a media report alleged he had a close relationship with a Chinese businesswoman who passed information to Beijing.

Huang admitted in a message to employees that he had been unfaithful to his wife and took “full responsibility” for his actions, while Nvidia said the CEO was committed to continuing to lead the company without interruption.

The New York Times reported in October that Huang had a relationship with Alice Huang, a former executive of Singapore-based company Megaspeed, whom US authorities were investigating.

US authorities have scrutinised Megaspeed, which buys AI chips from Nvidia, over suspicions it helped Beijing gain access to advanced AI chips that are barred from shipment to China.

“The NVIDIA Board is initiating an independent investigation in light of recent reporting that founder and CEO Jensen Huang has been the target of a foreign intelligence effort. A committee of independent directors, assisted by outside independent counsel, will oversee the investigation,” Nvidia said.

The company said on Nov 8 that, while its board has no reason to believe that either US national security or Nvidia secrets were compromised, its inquiry will examine all available information.

The board has confidence in the CEO and his leadership team, Nvidia said, adding that Huang fully supports the review and has committed to cooperating with it.

US President Donald Trump said on Nov 8 he had not spoken to Huang about the allegations, but called him a fine person.

“I hope everything’s fine. He’s done such an incredible job,” he added.

When asked if he believed he should have acted on intelligence when he was briefed about it, Trump said: “No, I don’t think so. I think he’s an honourable guy. I think he probably has an excuse for it. You have to hear it.”

The New York Times had reported that Trump was briefed about the intelligence findings roughly a year ago and chose not to do anything with the information.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declined to comment on Huang when asked by reporters on the evening of Nov 8.

Huang said on Nov 8 that he was “committed to protecting Nvidia and supporting America’s national security.”

Megaspeed did not respond immediately to a request for comment outside business hours.

Piling pressure on Nvidia

The investigation adds to pressure on Nvidia at a time investors are already pulling back from uncertainty over the sustainability of the AI market, in which the company is a leader.

The US$4.5 trillion (S$5.77 trillion) chipmaker’s shares have given up all their gains in 2026 amid a broader tech market rout triggered by worries over the pace of AI spending.

Huang, who has led Nvidia for more than three decades, has been central to its rise to become a dominant supplier of AI chips.

“There is clearly risk that Jensen could be removed as CEO depending on the Board investigation and this will add risk to the stock as he is so important to the Nvidia story and strategy globally,” said Dan Ives, partner and senior managing director at Yorkville Ives & Co.

“This is a black eye moment for Jensen and will spark multiple congressional inquiries at a minimum and will create an overhang on the stock,” Ives said, adding that the news would also increase major scrutiny about selling chips to China.

Huang admitted to having been unfaithful to his wife, saying, “My actions hurt her and our children. There is no excuse for what I did. I am deeply sorry.”

Addressing his colleagues, board, partners and shareholders, Huang said: “My responsibility is to serve you and be worthy of your trust. I have fallen short of that responsibility. I am fully committed to NVIDIA and will work to earn back your confidence.”

In late October, he had told Bloomberg News that his relationship and interactions with Alice Huang were related to Megaspeed and were “completely normal and not unusual”.

Josh Gilbert, lead analyst at trading platform eToro, said Huang’s fingerprints were on every part of the company’s rise, so any doubt over his position would matter to shareholders.

“While the investigation is likely to dent sentiment, it won’t alter anything long-term unless it leads to a change at the top, at which point it becomes a completely different ball game,” Gilbert added.

Top Republican lawmakers in the US House of Representatives have called on Huang to brief Congress in November about the report.

The report raises “significant national security concerns regarding (China’s) access to sensitive US technology and information,” the lawmakers said in a letter dated Nov 4.

“It is vital that Congress determines the extent to which US national security has been placed at risk,” they added.

US export controls since 2022 have sought to restrict China’s access to advanced Nvidia chips and the equipment needed to make them. REUTERS