Nvidia investigating CEO Jensen Huang over reported links to accused Chinese spy
Jensen Huang, co-founder and CEO of Nvidia, speaks during GTC Berlin. The U.S. chipmaker is hosting its AI conference from October 20 to 22, 2026. Photo: Soeren Stache/dpa (Photo by Soeren Stache/picture alliance via Getty Images)
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is under investigation by his own company following reports that he was targeted by a foreign intelligence effort. The tech giant’s board announced the new inquiry Sunday, noting that Huang supports and is cooperating with it.
What they're saying:
"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," the company wrote in a statement. The board stated that U.S. national and economic security are its top priorities for the investigation, above company and shareholder interests.
Huang, who has been Nvidia’s CEO since the company’s founding, will remain so during the investigation. The New York Times reported that in a message to company employees, Huang wrote, "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."
RELATED: Florida GOP lawmaker compares Vance's midterm remarks to Nazi-era Germany
Why you should care:
Nvidia has ridden the wave of the artificial intelligence boom to become one of the world’s most valuable companies. Its chips are commonly used in data centers and computing systems that run and train AI models. In recent years, as the AI race with other nations heated up, Nvidia’s most advanced chips became targets of export restrictions to prevent China from obtaining cutting-edge semiconductor technology.
The backstory:
Huang, 63, had developed an intimate relationship with Alice Huang, a former television reporter in China who became a top executive at the data center firm Megaspeed. The Singapore-based company grew to become one of Nvidia’s biggest customers, buying $4.8 billion worth of chips over the past two years, the New York Times reported.
According to the report, U.S. intelligence determined that Alice Huang, who is a Chinese citizen, was feeding information directly to Beijing.
What's next:
Three House Republicans have invited Huang to a joint briefing on Nov. 18, which would be the day after Nvidia’s latest quarterly earnings report. Reps. Brian Mast of Florida, John Moolenaar of Michigan, and Rick Crawford of Arkansas have said that the recent reports have raised concerns about China’s ability to access U.S. technology. It is not known if Huang will attend.
The Source: Information for this article was taken from Nvidia, Fox Business, The Associated Press, and the New York Times. This story was reported from Orlando, Florida.