Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has come under the radar of American intelligence agencies after investigators concluded that Alice Huang, a Chinese businesswoman associated with Singapore-based data centre company Megaspeed, was working for Beijing while maintaining a close relationship with the billionaire technology executive.
According to a report by The New York Times, American intelligence agencies gathered information suggesting that Alice Huang was passing information to China, which is competing with the United States for supremacy in artificial intelligence (AI). The findings reportedly raised concerns in Washington because of Jensen Huang’s influence over the AI industry and his close relationship with US President Donald Trump.
The report stated that Trump was briefed on the intelligence findings roughly a year ago but chose not to act on them. The decision was reportedly influenced by concerns that disrupting Nvidia’s business could hurt the US economy and stock market, while complicating Washington’s already sensitive trade relationship with Beijing.
Despite the allegations, Jensen Huang has not received a formal warning from American authorities that he was being targeted by foreign intelligence operatives. People familiar with the investigation told The New York Times that surveillance of Alice Huang was continuing.
The report, however, does not establish that Jensen Huang knowingly participated in any intelligence-gathering activity or that sensitive information was actually passed to Beijing through him.
Nvidia dismisses concerns over CEO’s interactions
Nvidia has rejected suggestions that Jensen Huang’s interactions with Alice Huang were unusual or suspicious.
Company spokesman John Rizzo told The New York Times that meetings with customers and business executives were a routine part of the Nvidia CEO’s responsibilities.
“Jensen talks with thousands of customer executives every year,” Rizzo said.
He added that Nvidia was confident American authorities would inform the company if they believed someone posed a threat to the US technology industry. Rizzo also maintained that customers such as Megaspeed received ordinary business information, not sensitive trade secrets or information relevant to national security.
Megaspeed, meanwhile, said it was taking the allegations seriously and had hired external legal counsel to conduct a thorough internal investigation. The company also stated that it would cooperate with the US government.
The White House, the CIA and the National Security Agency declined to comment on the reported intelligence findings.
China also rejected the allegations. Chinese Embassy spokesperson Liu Chang described the accusations as “groundless smears and slanders” against Beijing.
Megaspeed under scrutiny over Nvidia chip supplies
The allegations come against the backdrop of a wider American investigation into whether advanced Nvidia chips were being diverted to Chinese companies in violation of US export restrictions.
According to the report, the US Commerce Department began scrutinising Megaspeed in late 2024 after an official visited its data centre in Malaysia and found Nvidia equipment still packed in boxes. The discovery raised suspicions that the equipment might be intended for onward shipment rather than installation at the facility.
Megaspeed operates data centres in Southeast Asia and supplies computing capacity to Chinese companies, including Alibaba. US investigators reportedly suspect that some Nvidia chips acquired through the company’s network may have reached China illegally.
The report also cited trade records showing that Megaspeed’s sister company in Malaysia purchased at least $4.8 billion worth of advanced AI equipment containing Nvidia technology between June 2024 and February 2026.
Washington has restricted exports of advanced AI chips to China since 2022, citing national security concerns. However, companies operating data centres in Southeast Asia can purchase computing capacity and rent it to Chinese customers, creating potential loopholes in the restrictions.
Trump’s relationship with Nvidia CEO raises questions
The reported intelligence findings also emerge as Jensen Huang has become an increasingly influential figure in Washington’s technology policy discussions.
Huang has lobbied the Trump administration to ease restrictions on Nvidia chip sales to China. Trump previously authorised the sale of certain Nvidia chips to China in exchange for a share of the revenue, while considering whether to permit sales of more advanced technology.
The report said some current and former US officials believed Trump’s close relationship with Huang had complicated efforts to impose tighter controls on chip exports.
For now, several crucial questions remain unanswered, including what information Alice Huang passed to Beijing, whether Jensen Huang was aware of her suspected activities and whether any sensitive information was compromised.
The allegations remain unproven publicly, and neither Nvidia’s CEO nor the Chinese businesswoman has been formally accused of wrongdoing in connection with the reported intelligence operation.
