Nvidia board opens independent investigation into CEO Jensen Huang over relationship with suspected Chinese spy

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Nvidia's board of directors said on Sunday it is launching an independent investigation after reports that CEO Jensen Huang was the target of a foreign intelligence effort.

Huang admitted in a memo to employees that he had been unfaithful to his wife in a relationship with Alice Huang, a former executive at Singapore-based Megaspeed, whom US intelligence concluded was a Chinese Ministry of State Security asset. He said he supports the investigation and will cooperate fully.

The board stated it has no reason to believe company secrets or US national security were compromised, and expressed confidence in Huang's continued leadership. A committee of independent directors with outside counsel will oversee the inquiry.

Nvidia's official board statement and Huang's memo confirm the investigation and the admission of the affair. The New York Times previously reported the intelligence assessment of Alice Huang; Reuters and BBC independently confirmed the board's action and Huang's statement. No finding of compromised secrets has been made.

The episode raises questions about security around the leading AI chip maker amid tight US export controls on advanced semiconductors to China. Huang has committed to remaining CEO without interruption while the review proceeds, and lawmakers have sought briefings on the company's protocols.