Nvidia’s board announced that it is opening an independent investigation after reports that Huang was targeted by a foreign intelligence effort. Independent directors, assisted by outside independent counsel, will oversee the review.
The board said the inquiry will examine all available information. It also said it has confidence in Huang and his leadership team and will provide further updates as appropriate.
The board said Huang supports the review and has committed to cooperating with it.
In his message, Huang said he was unfaithful to his wife and that his actions hurt her and their children. He said he took full responsibility and had fallen short of his duties to Nvidia’s employees, board, and shareholders.
Huang also said he is fully committed to Nvidia and will work to earn back the confidence of the company. The message did not name the woman involved.
Who Is Alice Huang?
Alice Huang is a Chinese citizen and an executive at Megaspeed, a Singapore-based tech company. She is not related to Jensen Hu
According to reports, U.S. officials concluded she was a Chinese intelligence asset and had built a close relationship with Jensen Huang. The Times also reported that a memo sent to Trump administration policymakers last spring said China’s Ministry of State Security had recruited her. President Donald Trump was briefed on the findings and took no action.
Some points remain unsettled. The suspected intelligence operation has not been independently confirmed. China’s Foreign Ministry called the reports baseless.
Congress Wants a Briefing From Huang
Three House Republican committee chairs asked Huang to give a closed-door briefing to Congress. The letter was signed by Brian Mast, John Moolenaar and Rick Crawford.
The lawmakers want details about his interactions with Alice Huang and about Nvidia’s security protocols against foreign espionage. They asked him to appear on Nov. 18. That is one day after Nvidia is scheduled to report its third-quarter earnings.
Nvidia had already responded to the earlier reports. A spokesperson said Huang talks with thousands of customer executives every year and that his interactions with her were not unusual or unexpected. In an interview last week, Huang called his dealings with Megaspeed normal. He said the company checked that Megaspeed did not illegally send Nvidia chips to China.
What the Investigation Means for Nvidia
An analyst named Ives wrote that investors will ask whether Huang stays on as CEO. He expects Huang to continue in the role in the near term, with no interruption. He also said Huang could be removed depending on what the board investigation finds, and that this adds risk to the stock.
Earlier this year, Huang joined President Trump’s business delegation to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. The board has said it will share more updates as appropriate.
