Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang linked to suspected Chinese spy

The CEO of one of the world’s biggest tech companies has been romantically linked to a suspected Chinese spy.

International media reports Jensen Huang, the CEO of Nvidia, had a relationship with a tech executive the U.S. suspects of spying for the Chinese Government.

While the Nvidia CEO has not publicly confirmed that relationship, he has admitted to being unfaithful to his wife.

In response, Nvidia’s board said it will launch an independent investigation, and members of U.S. Congress have asked Jensen Huang to brief them on the relationship.

Nvidia is a U.S. tech company that started out making graphics cards for video games.

It now makes the computer chips used to power most of the world’s AI systems.

It is the second most valuable company in the world, behind Apple, and is currently valued at $US4.5 trillion ($AU6.6 trillion).

Since 2022, the U.S. has restricted which Nvidia chips can be sold to China, over concerns they could strengthen its military and technology capabilities.

Nvidia

Nvidia and Huang have built a close relationship with the Trump administration since the 2024 election.

Nvidia donated to Trump’s inauguration celebrations and the new White House ballroom, and Trump appointed Huang to his science and technology advisory council in March.

Trump

On 29 October, The New York Times (NYT) reported that U.S. intelligence officials believe Alice Huang, an executive at Megaspeed (a customer of Nvidia), is a Chinese spy.

The NYT cited unnamed officials as saying she had grown “close” to Jensen.

A day later, China’s foreign ministry said the reports were “unsubstantiated” and “nothing but smears against China”.

On 6 November, the Financial Times reported that internal U.S. government documents described Jensen and Alice’s relationship as romantic.

Affair

On Sunday (U.S. time), Jensen sent an email to Nvidia employees confirming he had been “unfaithful” to his wife, though he did not name Alice.

In a separate statement, Nvidia’s board said Jensen would support and cooperate with an independent investigation into the reports that he was a “target of a foreign intelligence effort”.

Nvidia’s board says it has no reason to believe any “secrets were compromised”.

Alice Huang has not spoken publicly about the allegations she is a spy.

Govt response

Three senior Republican lawmakers have asked Huang to attend a private meeting to discuss the relationship and potential espionage.

Separately, Democratic Senator Chris Coons said his party would investigate “the Trump Administration, Chinese spies, and AI billionaires” when it takes power in January.

After the initial NYT story, Trump said: “I have a lot of respect for Jensen. I didn’t know about the specific thing.”

The NYT reported he was “briefed... and chose not to do anything with the information.”

What’s next

Jensen Huang will remain as CEO while the investigation is underway.

The news broke after U.S. markets closed for the week, so the impact on Nvidia’s shares is not yet known.

However, early trading suggests investors expect U.S. tech stocks to fall when markets reopen.

Trump is taking a trip to Asia next week.

When asked whether Jensen Huang will join him, Trump said: “I don’t know, but I’d certainly take him.”

The President also said he believes Jensen “probably has an excuse for” the relationship with Alice.