US technology giant Nvidia is launching an independent investigation into allegations that the company’s chief executive, Jensen Huang, had an affair with a Chinese spy.
This is reported by the BBC.
Nvidia — one of the world’s most valuable companies — says the inquiry will examine information suggesting Huang became “a target of foreign intelligence activity”.
At the same time, the company says it has no reason to believe Nvidia’s secrets or US national security have been compromised. However, it intends to “review all available information”.
Huang admitted he had been unfaithful to his wife. He moved to the United States from Taiwan as a child. The businessman said: “I love our country and our company,” adding that he is committed to protecting “America’s national security”.
Nvidia is at the centre of the race in artificial intelligence between the US and China. The company develops some of the world’s most advanced AI chips, and since 2022 the United States has imposed a range of export restrictions to prevent its cutting-edge technologies from reaching China.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he could not comment on the situation. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also declined to provide further comment.
- It was previously reported that the US, Singapore and Taiwan are investigating a possible transfer to China of information about advanced chips made by US company Nvidia. Under suspicion is Alice Huang, the former head of Singapore’s Megaspeed International, who worked with the chipmaker and had business contacts with its chief executive, Jensen Huang.
- The Wall Street Journal wrote that US officials concluded as far back as last year that Alice Huang, also known as Huan Le, may have passed information to the Chinese authorities while Megaspeed was working with Nvidia on building data centres in Asia.
- Investigators suggested that Chinese intelligence services may have recruited the woman by exploiting information about her close relationship with Jensen Huang.