Nvidia Board Starts Probe Into CEO's Ties to Chinese Businesswoman

Nvidia, the leading manufacturer of artificial intelligence chips, announced on Sunday that its board of directors is launching an internal investigation. The review was triggered by recent reports detailing a close personal relationship between CEO Jensen Huang and a Chinese national named Alice Huang. The two men are not related.

The New York Times published a series of stories over the past two weeks alleging that Huang was the target of a Chinese intelligence operation. The operation aimed to facilitate the transfer of advanced Nvidia AI chips to China, potentially bypassing U.S. export limits. According to the newspaper, Alice Huang runs a Singapore-based company that purchased nearly $5 billion worth of Nvidia chip technology.

Times reporter Ana Swanson described Alice Huang as a businesswoman with a mysterious rise in prominence. Swanson noted that the two were photographed together at a bar and at dinner with other executives after industry events in Taiwan. The reporting suggests that this relationship may have helped China access restricted technology.

In a statement, the Nvidia board said it has no reason to believe that national security secrets or company trade secrets were compromised. However, the board stated it will examine all available information. "While the Board has no reason to believe that either national security or NVIDIA secrets were compromised, the Board's inquiry will examine all available information," the statement read.

Jensen Huang addressed his employees in an email on Sunday, acknowledging the relationship. He apologized to his wife for being unfaithful and stated his intent to cooperate fully with the review. "I love our country and our company," Huang wrote. "I am committed to protecting NVIDIA and supporting America's national security."

NPR reached out to the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., but did not receive a response as of Sunday. Meanwhile, three Republican members of Congress sent a letter to Huang last week. They requested that he brief lawmakers on the relationship and the company's security protocols against foreign espionage.

Nvidia has seen rapid growth in recent years, evolving from a computer graphics chip maker to a central provider of hardware for AI training. The company maintains a high profile in Washington, with Huang appearing publicly alongside President Trump on several occasions. Nvidia is also helping to fund the construction of a new ballroom at the White House.