Nvidia opens security inquiry after reports on CEO’s affair

Nvidia’s board said it was acting after reports that its founder and chief executive, Jensen Huang, had been the target of a foreign intelligence effort. A committee of independent directors, assisted by external legal advisers, will oversee the inquiry.

The board said it had no reason to believe US national security or Nvidia’s secrets had been compromised, but that the inquiry would examine all available information. It also expressed confidence in Huang and his leadership team.

The BBC, citing a New York Times report, said US intelligence officials believed Chinese businesswoman Alice Huang, who had a close relationship with the chief executive, was a spy for China’s Ministry of State Security. The New York Times cited unnamed sources for the intelligence assessment.

China has described allegations of an espionage operation targeting Jensen Huang as “groundless speculation”, the BBC reported. It said Alice Huang did not respond to a request for comment from The New York Times, and that it remained unclear what information she was alleged to have passed to Beijing.

In a message to staff published by Axios, Jensen Huang said he had been unfaithful to his wife and apologised to his family. He said: “I support the investigation and will cooperate fully.” An Nvidia spokesperson told Axios that Huang was committed to continuing as chief executive.

Nvidia’s chips are central to artificial intelligence development and have been a focus of US restrictions on technology sales to China. Three Republican leaders of US House committees have asked Huang to appear before them later this month to discuss the company’s security protocols.