The chip manufacturing giant Nvidia announced this Sunday, November 8, that it opened an independent investigation into its CEO, Jensen Huang, after his relationship with a businesswoman investigated for her alleged ties to Chinese intelligence became public. Jensen Huang admitted to having been unfaithful to his wife, as concern grows over the consequences of the scandal.

First modification: 09/11/2026 - 03:44

Nvidia said Sunday that its board of directors is investigating whether CEO Jensen Huang had been the target of a foreign intelligence spy operation, after a media report alleged he had a close relationship with a Chinese businesswoman who passed information to Beijing.

Jensen Huang declared in a message to employees that he had been unfaithful to his wife and that he took "full responsibility" for his actions, while Nvidia said the CEO was committed to continuing to lead the company without interruption.

These developments are likely to put pressure on the chipmaker's shares, which have already fallen sharply amid concerns about the sustainability of the AI ​​boom, analysts say, and could also raise questions about Huang's future at the helm of the company he co-founded.

The New York Times reported last month that Huang was in a relationship with Alice Huang, a former executive at Singapore-based Megaspeed, whom U.S. authorities investigated and concluded was a Chinese intelligence agent.

US authorities have put Megaspeed, which buys AI chips from Nvidia, under scrutiny over suspicions that it helped Beijing gain access to advanced AI chips that are prohibited from being shipped to China.

"The NVIDIA Board of Directors has launched an independent investigation following recent reports that founder and CEO Jensen Huang has been the subject of a foreign intelligence operation. A committee of independent directors, assisted by independent outside counsel, will oversee the investigation," Nvidia stated.

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The company stated Sunday that while its board of directors had no reason to believe that either U.S. national security or Nvidia's secrets had been compromised, its investigation would examine all available information.

The board of directors has confidence in the CEO and his leadership team, Nvidia stated, adding that Huang fully supports the review and is committed to cooperating with it.

"He is an honorable man"

US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he had not spoken to Huang about the allegations, but called him a good person. "I hope everything is fine. He has done an incredible job," he added.

Asked if he believed he should have acted on the intelligence he received, Trump responded: "No, I don't think so. I think he's an honorable man. I think he probably has an excuse. You have to listen to it."

The New York Times reported that Trump was briefed on the intelligence findings about a year ago and chose not to do anything with the information.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declined to comment on Huang when asked about it by reporters earlier in the evening.

Huang stated on Sunday that he was "committed to protecting Nvidia and supporting US national security."

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The pressure on Nvidia is growing

The investigation increases pressure on Nvidia at a time when investors are already retreating amid uncertainty over the sustainability of the booming AI market that made the chipmaker one of the world's most valuable companies.

Shares of the $4.5 trillion chipmaker have lost all of their gains this year amid a broad technology market slump, sparked by concerns about the pace of spending on artificial intelligence.

Huang, who has led Nvidia for more than three decades, has been instrumental in its rise to become a dominant supplier of AI chips.

"There is a clear risk that Jensen will be removed as CEO depending on the board's investigation, which will add risk to the stock as he is central to Nvidia's history and global strategy," said Dan Ives, partner and senior managing director at Yorkville Ives & Co.

"This is a blow to Jensen and will trigger, at a minimum, multiple congressional investigations, as well as create uncertainty about the stock," Ives said, adding that the news would also increase scrutiny over the chip sale to China.

Huang admitted to being unfaithful to his wife and said:

"My actions hurt her and our children. There is no excuse for what I did. I am so sorry."

Addressing his colleagues, board of directors, partners and shareholders, Huang said: "My responsibility is to serve you and be worthy of your trust. I have not lived up to that responsibility. I am fully committed to NVIDIA and will work to regain your trust."

In late October, he told Bloomberg News that his relationship and interactions with Alice Huang were related to Megaspeed and were "completely normal and not unusual."

Josh Gilbert, chief analyst at trading platform eToro, said Huang's influence was evident in every aspect of the company's rise, so any questions about his position would be important to shareholders.

"While the investigation is likely to affect public opinion, it will not alter anything in the long term unless it leads to a change at the top, in which case the situation will be completely different," Gilbert added.

Top Republican lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives had already asked Huang to brief Congress this month on the New York Times report.

The report raises "significant national security concerns regarding China's access to sensitive US technology and information," the lawmakers said in a letter dated Nov. 4. "It is vital that Congress determine the extent to which the national security of the United States has been put at risk," they added.

Since 2022, US export controls have sought to restrict China's access to Nvidia's advanced chips and the equipment needed to make them.

With Reuters and EFE

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