Nvidia opens investigation into CEO’s alleged relationship with Chinese spy: NPR

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang delivers his speech during the company’s GTC event in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, October 21, 2026.

Markus Schreiber/AP

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Markus Schreiber/AP

Major artificial intelligence chipmaker Nvidia has announced the opening of an internal investigation, following reports that the company’s CEO had a close relationship with a Chinese spy.

In the statement announcing the investigation, Nvidia cited recent report by The New York Timeswhich alleges that Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang was the target of a Chinese intelligence operation aimed at sending advanced Nvidia AI chips to China.

“While the Board has no reason to believe that NVIDIA’s national security or secrets were compromised, the Board’s investigation will consider all available information,” the Board said. statement of the company’s board of directors reads in part.

THE Times has released a series of reports over the past two weeks detailing Huang’s alleged relationship with a woman named Alice Huang, accused of being a spy for China. The two are not related. NPR contacted the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C. but did not receive a response.

China rejected the allegations on Monday.

“The so-called allegation of Chinese espionage is baseless,” Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry, told reporters at a regular news briefing. “This is nothing but slander against China.”

“Alice Huang is a Chinese national. She is a Chinese businesswoman who has had a somewhat mysterious and meteoric rise to fame,” Times journalist Ana Swanson explained on NPR’s technology podcast Machine Gods.

Alice Huang ran a Singapore-based company that purchased nearly $5 billion worth of Nvidia chip technology, Swanson says. “At the same time, she was also seen personally with Jensen Huang several times after some industry events in Taiwan. They were photographed together in a bar with other suppliers, and then also having dinner with other executives.”

The report of Times suggests that Alice Huang may have helped China circumvent US limits on exports of powerful AI chips.

According to Nvidia, Huang sent an email to his employees on Sunday, acknowledging the relationship and apologizing for being unfaithful to his wife.

“I support the investigation and will cooperate fully,” Huang wrote. “I love our country and our company. I am committed to protecting NVIDIA and supporting America’s national security. I am proud and grateful to be an American.”