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Nvidia’s board has opened an independent probe into allegations that CEO Jensen Huang was targeted by Chinese intelligence.
The investigation follows reports that Alice Huang, a former executive at Singapore-based data centre company Megaspeed, allegedly gathered intelligence on the Nvidia chief executive. The allegations have prompted scrutiny from US lawmakers over national security concerns and possible violations of restrictions on advanced AI chip exports to China.
Who Is Alice Huang?
Alice Huang, also known as Huang Le, is a Chinese citizen and former senior executive at Megaspeed. She is not related to Jensen Huang and reportedly no longer works at the company. No public criminal charges against her have been reported. Her professional background remains partly unverified. A Chinese private-fund database attributed previous positions at Hunan TV, CCTV, HSBC’s private banking division and CITIC Securities to her. However, questions have been raised about parts of that employment history.
Company filings show that Alice Huang became managing director of Megaspeed in March 2023 and resigned as a director later that year. Reports also linked her to Shanghai Hexi Investment Management and businesses associated with a cybersecurity unit of China Electronics Technology Group Corporation.
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Why Did US Intelligence Agencies Become Suspicious?
Megaspeed purchases equipment powered by Nvidia chips and rents computing capacity to customers, including Chinese technology company Alibaba. US authorities suspected that advanced AI chips supplied to Megaspeed’s network were being diverted to China in violation of export restrictions. Trade records cited in the reports showed that Megaspeed’s Malaysian sister company purchased at least $4.8 billion worth of AI equipment containing Nvidia chips between June 2024 and February 2026.
According to The Guardian, US officials suspected Alice Huang of assisting chip smuggling and placed her under surveillance. Nvidia has maintained that it complies with applicable laws and has found no evidence of smuggling.
During the investigation, intelligence agencies identified her contact with Jensen Huang. The two were photographed together in Taipei in June 2024 and reportedly met again in May 2025.
What Are the Espionage Allegations?
A classified memorandum described by The New York Times and Financial Times reportedly alleged that China’s Ministry of State Security recruited Alice Huang to collect intelligence about Jensen Huang and potentially influence Nvidia’s efforts to sell advanced chips to China.
People familiar with the memorandum told the Financial Times that it described a romantic relationship. US officials reportedly did not believe Jensen Huang knew about the alleged intelligence activities. In a message to employees, Huang acknowledged being unfaithful to his wife and apologised for hurting his family. He did not identify the woman and pledged cooperation with the investigation.
China’s embassy rejected the allegations as baseless. Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs disputed reports suggesting its authorities had investigated Alice Huang as a suspected Chinese intelligence source, although Singapore police confirmed a separate investigation involving Megaspeed.
How Has Nvidia Responded to the Controversy?
Nvidia’s board has appointed independent directors, supported by external lawyers, to investigate whether Jensen Huang was targeted by foreign intelligence. The company said it had no reason to believe national security or corporate secrets had been compromised.
Huang, 63, will continue serving as chief executive while the investigation proceeds. Megaspeed has also appointed external lawyers to conduct an internal investigation and pledged cooperation with US authorities.
The US Commerce Department has referred the Megaspeed matter to the Justice Department. Meanwhile, three Republican committee chairmen in the House of Representatives have requested a closed-door briefing from Huang on November 18.
Democratic Senators Chris Coons and Elizabeth Warren have also called for answers concerning the allegations and Nvidia’s response.
The controversy has raised questions about Nvidia’s leadership and its exposure to national security investigations. However, the espionage allegations remain unproven, and the company’s independent investigation is continuing.
