From BBC News · · 3m
Nvidia CEO investigated over affair with alleged Chinese spy
Jensen Huang faces internal inquiry after romantic involvement with woman linked to firm accused of smuggling AI chips to China.
In brief
Jensen Huang faces internal inquiry after romantic involvement with woman linked to firm accused of smuggling AI chips to China. Nvidia is investigating CEO Jensen Huang over an extramarital affair with Alice Huang, former CEO of Singapore data centre firm Megaspeed, amid concerns about potential technology transfer…
Nvidia CEO under investigation
Jensen Huang, 63, chief executive of multi-trillion dollar firm Nvidia, is being investigated by his own company over an extramarital affair with Alice Huang, former CEO of Singapore-based data centre company Megaspeed.
The stakes: US-China AI race
The US is locked in a fierce race with China to develop the best AI models. President Donald Trump says whoever wins AI wins, gaining the most power in the world.
“Whoever wins AI, wins”
Nvidia's dominance in AI chips
Nvidia makes the best chips for AI and has been overwhelmed with demand. A single unit of its latest data centre kit starts at £37,000 ($50,000). Medium or large sites might have hundreds.
US export ban on advanced chips
The US administration initially slapped an export ban on Nvidia's recent devices to prevent China from accessing their superior capabilities. It has since softened the rules a little.
Megaspeed's alleged chip smuggling
Bloomberg reported that Megaspeed bought billions of dollars worth of Nvidia tech in November 2025. There are suggestions the company may have been involved in sneaking chips into China. Megaspeed denies they were used illegitimately.
Huang lobbied for relaxed export rules
Jensen Huang has lobbied heavily for export rules between the US and China to be relaxed, arguing the AI race does not matter and China becoming dependent on US tech would be acceptable.
“President Trump wants American to win and President Xi wants China to win, and it's possible for both of them to do so”
Key questions for Nvidia
Nvidia must determine whether Alice Huang gained special access to the firm's latest technology via Jensen, either deliberately or not, and whether she shared it with Beijing or others.
National security concerns
Jensen Huang operates at the top of US elite with influence and access to powerful people. He may have been privy to national security information. Nvidia says there is no evidence he passed anything on.
Huang's position remains secure
Huang has backing from both the Nvidia board and President Trump, who described him as honourable. Nvidia shares have fallen but not tanked. Huang says he will co-operate and wants to keep his job.
Huang's 30-year leadership at stake
Huang has run Nvidia for more than thirty years and steered it through multiple crises. To many, he is Nvidia. There is no natural successor waiting in the wings to replace him if forced out.
The short version
Nvidia is investigating CEO Jensen Huang over an extramarital affair with Alice Huang, former CEO of Singapore data centre firm Megaspeed, amid concerns about potential technology transfer to China during US-China AI competition.
