Nvidia board opens probe into Huang's alleged spy affair

Nvidia's board has opened an independent investigation into CEO Jensen Huang after reporting linked him to a Megaspeed executive that U.S. intelligence agencies view as a Chinese intelligence asset. In an email to staff on November 8, 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."

The board said it would "examine all available information," while adding that it had "no reason to believe that either national security or NVIDIA secrets were compromised."

The woman, Alice Huang, is identified as an executive at Singapore-based cloud firm Megaspeed, which the House Select Committee on China on November 5 described as tied to a "publicly reported Chinese intelligence asset." According to CNBC, Megaspeed has faced accusations of helping restricted Chinese buyers acquire Nvidia AI chips and was previously investigated for export-control violations. Tom's Hardware reported that the suspect is linked to a company accused of smuggling $2 billion in AI chips; separately, Megaspeed is reported to have bought $4.8 billion in Nvidia chips over two years.

The Verge's Elizabeth Lopatto argues the scandal threatens the company at the center of the AI buildout. The piece was moving through the AI watchers we track when the news broke.

China has denied spying on Huang, calling the claims "groundless speculation and slander." Three House Republican committee chairs have asked Huang to attend a closed-door briefing on November 18.