EXPLAINER: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's affair with suspected Chinese spy

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang made headlines worldwide after admitting to an extramarital affair. But the revelation carries implications beyond his personal life.

According to GMA News Feed, Nvidia's board of directors has launched an investigation into Huang after concerns that he may have been targeted in a foreign influence operation.

The woman Huang reportedly had an affair with was Alice Huang, a former executive of Singapore-based data center firm Megaspeed. US authorities reportedly investigated Alice Huang and concluded that she was a Chinese intelligence asset.

Huang informed Nvidia employees about his affair in a message but did not identify the woman involved.

“I was unfaithful to my wife. My actions hurt her and our children. There is no excuse for what I did. I am deeply sorry… I take full responsibility for what I did and the hurt I caused, and I accept the criticism that comes with it,” Jensen Huang said.

“Leading Nvidia is the privilege of my life. 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,” he added.

Huang co-founded Nvidia in 1993, serving as its president, CEO, and member of the board of directors. He earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Oregon State University and a master's degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University.

Nvidia is now one of the world's largest technology companies and a major player in the artificial intelligence industry, supplying chips to AI developers such as Meta and OpenAI. The company is also a key player in the United States' race against China for AI dominance.

In October 2022, the US government imposed export restrictions on advanced chips to China, including certain Nvidia chips.

According to reports from the New York Times, Huang and US President Donald Trump struck a deal to allow Nvidia to sell its second-most powerful chip to China, with the US government getting a 25% share of the sales.

Meanwhile, US officials suspect that Megaspeed was involved in smuggling restricted chips to China, an allegation the company has denied.

“These thorough investigations have confirmed that there has been no evidence of any violations concerning the illicit transfer of chips or any illegal activities, and this demonstrates that we are a compliant and legitimate company. We operate fully within the bounds of all applicable export control regulations and maintain the highest standards of legal and ethical conduct,” Megaspeed said in 2025.

Following reports linking Huang to an alleged Chinese spy, Republican lawmakers have raised concerns over national security regarding China’s access to sensitive US technology and information.

On November 4, US lawmakers Brian Mast, John Moolenaar and Eric Crawford have asked Huang for a closed-door meeting to discuss his company’s “security protocols against foreign adversary espionage.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declined to comment on the matter.

“I can't comment on any of that. I just can't comment because of the nature of it. And I also can't comment on an internal corporate matter that's going on with Nvidia as you highlight. I don't know anything about that part of it,” Rubio said.

Trump said he has yet to speak with Huang about the matter.

“I just know he's a fine person, but you never know what is going on. I'm sure — I hope everything is fine. He's done such an incredible job,” Trump said.

Meanwhile, the Chinese government has dismissed the espionage claims.

“The so-called claims of Chinese spy narrative are purely a groundless accusation, slander, and a smear,” Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun said. —VBL, GMA News