Jensen Huang confesses to extra-marital affair with Chinese spy: Read what is happening at Nvidia

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has acknowledged an affair with a Chinese spy who has targeted him as part of a foreign intelligence operation. He said there was “no excuse” for his conduct. He apologised to his wife and children, as the AI chip company launched an independent investigation into claims that he was in a relationship with the woman.

On Sunday, 8 November, in a memo to employees, Huang acknowledged the relationship and apologised to his family and colleagues. “I was unfaithful to my wife. My actions hurt her and our children. There is no excuse for what I did,” Huang wrote, according to reports. He added, “I take full responsibility for what I did and the hurt I caused, and I accept the criticism that comes with it”.

He further said, “My responsibility is to serve you and be worthy of your trust. I have fallen short of that responsibility. I am fully committed to Nvidia and will work to earn back your confidence.”

Addressing the national security implications directly, Huang confirmed that Nvidia’s Board has initiated an independent investigation into the matter. “I support the investigation and will cooperate fully,” he stated, adding, “I love our country and our company, and I am committed to protecting NVIDIA and supporting America’s national security”. He also requested privacy for his family, emphasising that they “bear no responsibility for my choices”.

The Background: Who is Alice Huang, what is the controversy

The admission follows months of mounting scrutiny over Huang’s ties to Alice Huang, a former executive at Singapore-based data centre firm Megaspeed.

The New York Times reported last month that U.S. intelligence agencies had concluded Alice Huang was acting on behalf of Beijing. They cited unnamed sources and surveillance that reportedly revealed communications between her and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang through “unmasking”.

Alice Huang previously worked as a television reporter in China before becoming a senior executive at Megaspeed. The company purchased more than $4.8 billion worth of Nvidia chips over the past two years.

The paper said she was recruited by China’s Ministry of State Security and was involved in efforts to divert advanced Nvidia AI chips to China despite U.S. export controls.

A committee of independent directors will oversee the investigation, with assistance from external legal counsel. Huang has supported the inquiry and pledged to cooperate fully.

Nvidia’s board response and corporate reassurance

The company said in a statement, “While the Board has no reason to believe that either national security or Nvidia secrets were compromised, the Board’s inquiry will examine all available information,” adding that protecting US national and economic security remained a priority.

The scandal has resonated beyond corporate boardrooms. On Chinese social media, hashtags related to the affair garnered nearly 10 million views within hours, though discussions of the spy allegations were notably muted or censored. The news has stunned Silicon Valley, where Huang is revered as a visionary leader of the world’s most valuable publicly traded company.

The controversy also caught the eye of US lawmakers. In a release on 4 November, three Republican congressional committee chairmen wanted a private briefing from Huang on 18 November regarding Nvidia’s safeguards against foreign espionage.

Nvidia spokesman John Rizzo said Huang remained committed to leading the company without interruption.