Nvidia opens an investigation into its CEO about his relationship with an alleged Chinese spy

The artificial intelligence semiconductor giant Nvidia has opened an independent investigation into its CEO, Jensen Huang, after the manager acknowledged a romantic relationship with businesswoman Alice Huang, suspected of spying for the Chinese Government.

The businessman had sent a message to the employees of the technological colossus in which he admitted that he had been unfaithful to his wife. “To my wife and my family: I love you,” he wrote. "I know that an apology cannot undo what I have done. I hope that our family recovers and that, in time, I can earn your trust again."

US officials had concluded last year, according to US media, that Alice Huang, then a senior executive at the company Megaspeed International, had shared information with the Chinese government while collaborating with Nvidia, the most valuable company in the world, to build data centers in Asia. The technology company's board of directors has indicated in a statement that it has no reason to believe that the company's secrets or American national security have been affected. “Today's news is not going to stop Nvidia,” declared the spokesperson for the technological colossus. “Jensen is committed to continuing to lead Nvidia as CEO without interruption.”

After The New York Times newspaper published the scoop on Jensen Huang's extramarital relationship in October, Nvidia had initially denied the suspicions, alleging that its boss maintained social relationships with thousands of clients, without this meaning that he would share confidential data with them.

The Chinese Government also then described the information published by the Times as “baseless.” At the daily press conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing, the spokesperson for this organization, Guo Jiakun, maintained that the news “has no basis”, was “pure slander” and “an attempt to discredit China”.

Huang, 63, had married Lori, whom he met at university, at a very young age. The two have two sons in their thirties who work at the semiconductor giant. Huang's case is extremely delicate, but it is part of the new life of Silicon Valley: its secrets interest everyone and it is natural that international intelligence services could try to infiltrate his offices and personal environments.

The businessman is one of the most powerful managers in the world. The tech giant makes some of the world's most advanced semiconductors, needed to stay ahead in the race to dominate artificial intelligence. Huang has developed a close relationship with US President Donald Trump and visits the White House relatively frequently. The last time he was seen there was during the state dinner offered in September to Chinese President Xi Jinping, to which most of the CEOs and leaders of the main technology companies were also invited.