Nvidia CEO Affair With Suspected Spy Triggers DOJ Probe and Congressional Firestorm
Jensen Huang's relationship with Alice Huang, an ex-executive linked to Chinese intelligence, has drawn federal scrutiny and threatened key AI chip export deals.
By Natalia Costa ·
The U.S. Department of Justice has opened an investigation into whether the Singapore-based cloud computing firm Megaspeed violated export control laws, a probe that extends to Alice Huang, a former executive at the company. The inquiry is being led by the National Security Division and stems from a Commerce Department review initiated last year.
Alice Huang is alleged to have provided intelligence and advanced computer chips to China. U.S. intelligence officials concluded that she spied for Beijing, according to The New York Times. The Justice Department is now examining if Megaspeed skirting export laws to route Nvidia hardware to Chinese users was part of this broader effort.
Jensen Huang, the 63-year-old chief executive of Nvidia, was in a romantic relationship with Alice Huang. He apologized to the company for hurting his wife and children but did not address the suspicion that his partner was a spy. Nvidia’s board stated it has no reason to believe national security secrets or company data were compromised. The board confirmed Huang will remain in charge while cooperating with investigators.
President Donald Trump spoke with Huang as the scandal emerged. Trump said he believes Huang will be fine because the CEO told him he had no idea the woman was a spy. When asked when he first learned of the concerns, Trump suggested the matter had been mentioned previously but noted it did not significantly impact him.
The timing of the probe creates tension in Washington. Nvidia is central to the U.S. strategy for dominating artificial intelligence, a sector Trump has described as vital for national wealth and security. Trump awarded Huang a National Medal of Science last month and included him on a state visit to Beijing earlier this year. The company also donated $25 million toward the construction of the White House ballroom.
Democratic members of Congress are using the affair to question the security of American technology. Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts issued a statement Monday saying Nvidia received approvals to export hundreds of thousands of advanced AI chips to China. She noted that some of these chips went to companies tied to the Chinese military.
Warren said Huang’s relationship with Alice Huang raises important questions about how the company managed export controls. She has previously demanded that Huang appear before the Senate Banking Committee to explain his push to loosen restrictions on selling less advanced chips, such as the H200 model, to China. Huang has declined to testify so far.
Huang has argued that selling certain chips to China ensures the AI ecosystem remains tied to the U.S. and prevents Chinese rivals from gaining ground. He recently told the Associated Press that Trump focuses on job creation and re-industrialization during their conversations. Trump, who has frequently called Huang on late-night phone calls, described him as a man whose determination put America at the front of the intelligence race.
Beijing rejected the spy allegations on Monday, calling them unsubstantiated and describing them as smears. Megaspeed did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Tuesday. Alice Huang was not reached for comment by The Associated Press.
The political stakes are high as Democrats regain control of Congress following last week’s midterm elections. Economic analysts suggest that a large portion of stock market gains during Trump’s second term has come from AI industry growth. If the sector slows, consumer spending may drop, adding pressure to a White House that has struggled to lower inflation.
