Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has admitted to an affair with a woman alleged to be a Chinese spy, sparking a major scandal that has shaken the tech giant and raised national security concerns. In an email to Nvidia’s 42,000 employees on Sunday, Huang apologized for his infidelity, expressing regret for the hurt caused to his family and the company. He pledged to work to regain the trust of employees and reaffirmed his commitment to Nvidia.
The affair has broader implications due to Nvidia’s critical role in U.S. technology and national security. The company, valued at over $4 trillion, produces advanced semiconductor chips essential for AI models and data centers. Export restrictions on Nvidia’s most advanced chips, particularly to China, have been a key part of U.S. policy, with Huang maintaining a close relationship with President Donald Trump.
The allegations surfaced on October 29, when the New York Times reported that U.S. intelligence believed Alice Huang (also known as Huang Le), a Singapore-based executive at Megaspeed, had developed a close relationship with Jensen Huang to gather information on Nvidia’s restricted chips. Megaspeed has denied any wrongdoing, but the scandal has led to a market reaction, with Nvidia’s stock dropping more than 5 percent on Monday and over 15 percent in the past week.
President Trump has publicly supported Huang, calling him a “very high-quality person” and an “amazing guy.” However, U.S. lawmakers have demanded answers, with House committees requesting Huang’s testimony. The scandal is also expected to cast a shadow over Trump’s upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen next week.