Beijing has dismissed US media reports of espionage as “groundless speculation” aimed at smearing China
American AI chipmaking giant Nvidia has launched an independent investigation into allegations that its founder and CEO, Jensen Huang, was targeted in a Chinese intelligence ‘honeypot’ operation, after the billionaire admitted to cheating on his wife.
The 63-year-old billionaire did not identify the woman involved in the affair or explicitly mention China in his Sunday message to employees. However, he acknowledged the national security concerns raised by media reports, pledged to cooperate with the investigation announced by Nvidia’s board of directors, and reaffirmed his commitment to protecting the company and US national security.
“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,” Huang wrote.
The admission follows reports by the New York Times and Financial Times alleging that Huang had developed a romantic relationship with Alice Huang, also known as Huang Le, a Chinese executive formerly associated with Singapore-based technology company Megaspeed International.
According to the reports, US intelligence officials believe the woman was recruited by China’s Ministry of State Security to gather information about Nvidia and potentially influence its CEO to lobby Washington to ease restrictions on exports of advanced artificial intelligence chips to China.
Beijing has rejected the spying accusations. “The relevant report is based on groundless speculation and is purely aimed at smearing and slandering China,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on October 30.
Trump had been briefed on the intelligence allegations roughly a year ago, while Huang had not received any warning from US agencies, according to the NYT.
Trump on taking Jensen Huang on his upcoming trip to Asia. “I would certainly take him. I haven’t heard he’s done anything wrong.” https://t.co/uAsQhEe8ws
The Nvidia chief subsequently accompanied Trump on a state visit to China in May, even traveling aboard Air Force One. In September, Huang and his wife, Lori, also attended Trump’s state dinner for Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the White House.
Trump defended Huang on Sunday, telling reporters that the Nvidia chief “hasn’t done anything wrong,” adding that he would take Huang on another upcoming trip to Asia.
The US president is scheduled to visit the Philippines before traveling to China for the APEC summit on November 18–19, where a potential trilateral meeting with Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin is being discussed.
Nvidia’s board said on Sunday that a committee of independent directors, assisted by outside legal counsel, would investigate reports of a “foreign intelligence effort” targeting Huang. It stressed that it had no reason to believe either US national security or the company’s secrets had been compromised, while reaffirming its confidence in Huang’s leadership.
The scandal comes amid an intensifying technological rivalry between Washington and Beijing, with advanced AI chips emerging as a major point of contention. Huang has maintained close ties with Trump and has advocated easing certain US export restrictions on Nvidia’s products.
Washington has repeatedly accused Beijing of cyberespionage, including alleged attacks on NASA, the Federal Reserve and other sensitive networks. China has consistently rejected such accusations, accusing the US of exploiting cybersecurity concerns to discredit the country.
