Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's secret affair: Why did US intelligence suspect Alice Huang of spying for China?

US intelligence agencies suspect that Chinese businesswoman Alice Huang, who developed a close personal relationship with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, was recruited by Beijing to gather information on the billionaire executive and potentially influence the chipmaker’s business decisions, according to a report by The New York Times.

The allegations have brought the world’s most valuable chipmaker under scrutiny. Nvidia’s board said on Sunday that it had opened an independent investigation into its co-founder and chief executive after he acknowledged having an affair with the woman, whom US officials suspect of working for Chinese intelligence.

Also Read: Nvidia opens probe into CEO Jensen Huang over affair with woman suspected of spying for China

The company said the inquiry was launched “in light of recent reporting that founder and CEO Jensen Huang has been the target of a foreign intelligence effort.” It did not identify the country involved.

“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,” Nvidia said in a statement.

The New York Times reported last month that US intelligence officials had concluded that Alice Huang, also known as Huang Le, was recruited by China's Ministry of State Security (MSS), the country's principal civilian intelligence agency. Investigators reportedly suspected that she had been passing information to Beijing.

Why does US intelligence suspect Alice Huang of spying for China?

According to the New York Times, US intelligence officials believed Alice Huang was gathering information about Jensen Huang and Nvidia, potentially giving Beijing insights into the company's strategy and the US government's thinking on artificial intelligence.

Her professional links to Megaspeed, a Singapore-based data centre company, also drew scrutiny. The company was reportedly under investigation over concerns that it could have helped divert Nvidia's advanced AI chips to China, where access to the most powerful processors is restricted by Washington.

Also Read: I was unfaithful to my wife: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang admits secret affair with Chinese spy Alice Huang; here's all you need to know about the controversy

US officials were examining the possibility that equipment acquired through Megaspeed's operations in Southeast Asia could ultimately reach Chinese buyers. NYT reported that a Malaysian affiliate of the company purchased about $4.8 billion worth of AI equipment between June 2024 and February 2026, raising questions among US officials about where the equipment was being deployed.

The investigation reportedly examined whether Alice Huang's relationship with Jensen Huang could have provided her with access to information about Nvidia's operations, its executive leadership and the chipmaker's approach to the Chinese market.

The intelligence findings were reportedly circulated among policymakers in the Trump administration. President Donald Trump was briefed on the intelligence concerning the relationship roughly a year ago but chose not to act on the information at the time.

The investigation, initially handled by the Commerce Department, was later transferred to the Justice Department, according to the report.

Who is Alice Huang, the businesswoman suspected of spying for China?

Alice Huang, also known as Huang Le, is a Chinese national and business executive who has been associated with Megaspeed, a Singapore-based data centre company.

She is reportedly a former television reporter who later moved into the technology and data centre business. Her professional role and the company's activities in Southeast Asia brought her into the orbit of Nvidia's leadership.

She is not related to Jensen Huang, the 63-year-old Taiwanese-born co-founder of Nvidia.

Megaspeed's business interests became relevant to the US intelligence investigation because of concerns over the movement of advanced AI processors through Southeast Asian data centres. Washington has imposed restrictions on exports of high-end chips to China, seeking to limit Beijing's access to technology that could strengthen its artificial intelligence and military capabilities.

Singapore authorities reportedly questioned Alice Huang in 2025. The New York Times said US officials were also examining her business activities and alleged links to Chinese intelligence.

There is no public evidence in the material reported so far that establishes that Nvidia's trade secrets or national security information were compromised.

Also Read: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang seen as target of China spy plot; Trump briefed but took no action: Report

What was Alice Huang's relationship with Jensen Huang?

The relationship between the two executives became a central part of the intelligence investigation after US officials reportedly identified Jensen Huang in communications involving Alice Huang.

NYT reported that the pair had developed a close personal relationship. A photograph of them at a bar in Taipei in June 2024 was among the details cited in reporting on their association. They were also reportedly seen together in May 2025.

Jensen Huang acknowledged the affair in a message to Nvidia employees released on Sunday, apologising to his wife, children and company staff.

“I was unfaithful to my wife,” he said. “My actions hurt her and our children. There is no excuse for what I did. I am deeply sorry.”

He has also said that his interactions with Alice Huang were connected to her work at Megaspeed and were normal business engagements.

“Our relationship, our interactions, have been related to Megaspeed, and it was all completely normal and not unusual,” he said.

The reported relationship has raised questions about whether Alice Huang could have gained insights into Nvidia's business and Jensen Huang's views on US policy towards China. The New York Times said the association could also have offered her access to information about the Trump administration's thinking on AI.

However, the allegations against Alice Huang do not establish that Jensen Huang knew of any alleged intelligence activity or participated in it.

Why was Jensen Huang a potential target for Chinese intelligence?

Jensen Huang is one of the most influential figures in the global AI industry. Nvidia's graphics processing units are widely used to train and run AI models, making the company central to the competition between the US and China for technological leadership.

Washington has restricted exports of its most advanced chips to China, arguing that access to such technology could have implications for national security. Nvidia has been caught in the middle of the debate, as it seeks to serve global customers while complying with US export controls.

Huang has been a prominent voice in discussions about the restrictions. He has argued that limiting access to Nvidia technology could strengthen China's efforts to develop its own chip industry.

He has also said that Nvidia has tracked the deployment of its processors in China. “We’ve studied all their deployments of our GPUs and counted every one,” he said. “And I think the US government also has as well.”

His proximity to the Trump administration has added another dimension to the allegations. Trump has repeatedly argued against excessive regulation of the AI industry, saying the US must retain its technological advantage over China.

The issue could also feature in Trump's planned talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping at a summit in China later this month, according to the report.