Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang 'admits to affair' as board launches inquiry into Chinese spy allegations
US tech giant Nvidia has announced it has launched an investigation following reports that its CEO Jensen Huang had an affair with a woman suspected of being a Chinese spy.
On Sunday (8 November), Huang sent a memo out to his staff at the tech company admitting to an affair.
“I was unfaithful to my wife,” he said in the statement that has been shared online.
“My actions hurt her and our children. There is no excuse for what I did. I am deeply sorry.”
Advert
His statement continued: "Regarding the national security concerns raised in news reports, Nvidia's Board of Directors has initiated an independent investigation. I support the investigation and will cooperate fully.
"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."
In a separate statement shared this evening, Nvidia’s board of directors said it had ‘no reason to believe that either national security or Nvidia secrets were compromised’ but said it ‘will examine all available information’.
"The Board prioritises US national and economic security, which is paramount to the interests of Nvidia and its shareholders,” it said.
The board went on to say that Huang ‘fully supports the review and has committed to co-operating with it’.
“The Board has confidence in Jensen and his leadership team and will provide further updates as appropriate,” the statement concluded.
Huang, 63, will remain as chief executive at Nvidia during the investigation.
According to a report from the New York Times late last month, US officials believed that Jensen Huang had struck up a close relationship with Chinese businesswoman Alice Huang, and determined that she was feeding information directly to Beijing.
Although they share the same last name, the two are not related.
Alice Huang was previously a television reporter in China before becoming a top executive at Singapore-based data centre company Megaspeed, which has become one of Nvidia’s biggest customers in Southeast Asia.
Megaspeed bought more than $4.8 billion (£3.6 billion) worth of Nvidia chips over the past two years, according to the Times.
Nvidia is one of the biggest players in AI infrastructure, creating chips that are used by the likes of OpenAI and Meta.
The company has a staggering $4.5 trillion valuation, making it one of the most valuable companies to ever exist.
Its CEO Huang is an ally of President Donald Trump.
On 31 October, Trump commented on the reports, calling the situation ‘very complex’ and saying he hoped everything was okay with Huang, who serves on the president’s Council of Advisers on Science and Technology.
The president has called Huang ‘smart’ and ‘amazing,’ insisting that Huang accompany him on foreign trips.
“I’ve always found Jensen Huang to be very aboveboard,” Trump told reporters.
Secretary of state Marco Rubio said on Sunday: “I just can’t comment because of the nature of it.
“And I also can’t comment on an internal corporate matter that’s going on with Nvidia.”
Huang has been married to his wife Lori for 41 years, and they share two adult children, Madison and Spencer.
Topics: US News, Technology
Claire Reid
