Jensen Huang's mistress suspected of being a Chinese spy: Nvidia opens an investigation but maintains its confidence in its boss

The board of directors of Nvidia, an American semiconductor giant, announced on Sunday the opening of an independent investigation after recent articles evoking a Chinese espionage operation targeting its founding boss, who simultaneously admitted an extramarital relationship. In a press release, the board justifies its decision by "recent press reports indicating that founder and boss Jensen Huang has been targeted by efforts of foreign intelligence services", without indicating the geographical origin. Stating that the board "has confidence in Jensen and his management team", he stressed that the big boss "fully supports this review and is committed to cooperation".

Also on Sunday afternoon, Mr. Huang sent a message to the group's employees - a copy of which AFP obtained - in which he acknowledged having had an extramarital relationship and was "deeply sorry" about it. However, he does not give details concerning this relationship, nor does he react to recent accusations published in the media.

The New York Times wrote at the end of October that a Chinese manager of the Megaspeed company - Alice Huang, unrelated to the boss of Nvidia, also known as Huang Le - was suspected by the American intelligence services of having operated as an agent of Chinese intelligence and of having established a close relationship with Jensen Huang. This company, based in Singapore, is suspected of having diverted advanced AI chips from Nvidia to China, the newspaper said, citing anonymous sources close to the investigation. Supported for the moment by the White House Information that Beijing then described as “unfounded speculation”, while the President of the United States Donald Trump gave his support to the “brilliant” boss of Nvidia.

“We are going to examine this very closely,” declared Mr. Trump, who is advised by Jensen Huang on AI. The latter was part of the delegation of bosses traveling with the American president to meet his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, in Beijing in May.

Asked by reporters on Sunday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declined to comment on the matter, saying it was an "internal company" matter. Addressing his Sunday message also to his colleagues at Nvidia, the board of directors, partners and shareholders around the world, Mr. Huang notably assured of his “total commitment” to the company.

“My responsibility is to serve you and be worthy of your trust. I failed you,” he added, in this mea culpa towards his family and Nvidia. Nvidia seeks to reassure A spokesperson for the group told AFP that “the news of the day will not slow down Nvidia.

Machine-translated from French