Nvidia’s board of directors announced on Sunday that it is launching an independent investigation into CEO Jensen Huang. The move follows reports that Huang was targeted by a Chinese spy operation. The board stated it has no reason to believe that national security or company secrets were compromised during the alleged espionage attempt.
Board Statement and Independent Review
In a formal announcement, the Nvidia board confirmed that it has engaged outside legal counsel to conduct the review. The investigation will be led by independent directors. The board emphasized that it retains confidence in Huang and his leadership team. Huang has fully supported the review and committed to cooperating with the investigators.
The company had previously addressed earlier reports regarding Huang’s relationship with Alice Huang, a former executive at Singapore-based chip company Megaspeed. At that time, Nvidia described the pair’s interactions as not unusual. The company also noted that it does not share classified information with its customers.
CEO Apology and Espionage Claims
Nvidia also published a message sent by Jensen Huang to the company. In the memo, Huang admitted to having an affair with Alice Huang, though he did not mention her by name in the public statement. A memo that circulated among U.S. policymakers earlier this year claimed that Alice Huang had been recruited by China’s Ministry of State Security to spy on Nvidia’s CEO.
“I owe my family and all of you an apology,” Jensen Huang wrote in the message. “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.”
Huang added that he had fallen short of his responsibility to the company. He addressed his colleagues, partners, and shareholders directly. “To my colleagues at NVIDIA, including those I have worked alongside for decades, and to our board, partners, and shareholders around the world: you deserve better from me,” he said.
Context of US-China Tech Rivalry
The investigation comes as the artificial intelligence race between the United States and China intensifies. Nvidia chips have become a major focus in this geopolitical competition. Huang has also been noted for having a close relationship with President Donald Trump, who has publicly supported the AI industry.
Other companies involved in the AI boom have previously warned employees to be wary of possible spies. These warnings have included alerts about individuals offering sex or romance as a method of recruitment.
Source: TechCrunch
