Nvidia board opens independent probe into foreign intelligence targeting of CEO Jensen Huang

The board of directors of US semiconductor company Nvidia announced Sunday an independent investigation following reports that founder and CEO Jensen Huang was targeted by a foreign intelligence operation.

A committee composed of independent board members, assisted by external legal counsel, will oversee the inquiry and evaluate all available information, the board said in an official statement.

The board emphasized that it prioritizes American national and economic security, describing both as essential to the core interests of the company and its shareholders.

While the inquiry proceeds, board members noted that they have "no reason to believe that either national security or NVIDIA secrets were compromised."

The board said Huang fully supports the internal review and has committed to cooperating throughout the process.

The inquiry follows disclosures that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio oversaw a classified intelligence memo in spring 2026 alerting top officials that Huang had maintained a relationship with Alice Huang, a senior executive at Singapore-based Megaspeed accused of operating for China's Ministry of State Security. Federal authorities have investigated Megaspeed over allegations of illicitly funneling restricted artificial intelligence semiconductors into mainland China.

The New York Times reported that Huang acknowledged to the company's board that he had been "intimate" with Alice Huang.

In a message sent to the company, Huang apologized, stating that he had been "unfaithful" to his wife and that his actions had hurt both his wife and his children. "There is no excuse for what I did. I am deeply sorry," he said.

Huang will continue to lead the company during the investigation, the board said, according to The New York Times.

Nvidia earlier said that Huang's interactions with Alice Huang were "not unusual or unexpected," characterizing them as standard commercial engagements and noting that Megaspeed never received classified corporate data or trade secrets.

China in October rejected a related report by The New York Times, dismissing the allegations as "unsubstantiated" and "nothing but a smear against China."