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Business·1 min read

Nvidia Opens Board Probe Into CEO Jensen Huang and Megaspeed Exec

Nvidia's board has launched an independent investigation after reports that CEO Jensen Huang was targeted by a foreign intelligence effort tied to a Megaspeed executive.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang speaking on stage in his signature black leather jacket in front of a green Nvidia logo.
Image: The Verge
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Nvidia's board of directors has opened an independent investigation into CEO Jensen Huang and his relationship with Alice Huang, an executive at Megaspeed, who was reportedly recruited by China's Ministry of State Security to spy on the company.

In a statement, the board said the probe was prompted by recent reporting that Huang "has been the target of a foreign intelligence effort." A committee of independent directors, assisted by outside independent counsel, will oversee the review. The board said it has no reason to believe that national security or Nvidia's secrets were compromised, but that the inquiry will examine all available information. Huang supports the review and has committed to cooperating, according to the statement, which also expressed confidence in him and his leadership team.

Background of the case

The New York Times reported last month that Huang had developed a "close relationship" with the Megaspeed executive. He later acknowledged in a memo to the company that the relationship was romantic. US officials believe she passed information directly to Beijing.

Megaspeed is an Nvidia customer and the subject of a Commerce Department investigation into whether it smuggled AI chips to China.

Why it matters

Nvidia's AI chips are seen as crucial to US technological leadership. Both the Biden and Trump administrations have restricted their sale to China. President Trump has loosened some of those limits, but sales of Nvidia's most powerful chips to Chinese firms remain barred, and the Commerce Department must approve individual companies that handle the chips.

Huang has also grown close to Trump, which raises questions about what he may have known about the administration's internal deliberations on AI, and whether any of it reached Alice Huang and, through her, Beijing.

The board said it will provide further updates as appropriate.

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Tags:nvidiajensen huangmegaspeedchinainvestigationai chips

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