Nvidia's independent directors hired outside investigators to examine reports of a foreign intelligence effort targeting Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, as U.S. lawmakers sought answers about his contacts and the company's chip security.
On Nov. 10, the directors named Joon H. Kim, a former acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, and law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz to conduct the inquiry. The board said Nov. 8 that it had no reason to believe national security or Nvidia secrets were compromised, but would examine the available information. Huang said in a message to employees that day that he had been unfaithful to his wife and would cooperate.
The New York Times and Financial Times reported that U.S. intelligence assessments linked Megaspeed executive Alice Huang to Chinese intelligence. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun rejected the allegation as unfounded.
Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs said its authorities had not investigated Alice Huang's alleged ties to Jensen Huang or Chinese intelligence. In an annex to the ministry's statement, Singapore police said an investigation into Megaspeed was ongoing.
Three Republican House committee chairs requested a closed-door briefing on Huang's interactions with Alice Huang and Nvidia's safeguards against espionage. They proposed Nov. 18 and asked Huang to accept or suggest another date by Nov. 11. House Foreign Affairs Committee Democrats separately asked the Commerce Department what it knew about the reported intelligence concerns and why advanced AI chip exports had been permitted.
The export questions carry commercial stakes for Nvidia. Beginning in February 2026, the U.S. government granted licenses allowing limited H200 shipments to specified China-based customers, Nvidia said in a filing for the quarter ended July 26. Chinese restrictions limited sales, and licensed shipments accounted for less than 1% of Data Center revenue that quarter. Nvidia said export controls have curtailed its access to China's data center market and helped competitors build customer and developer networks.
Sequoia Capital investor Shaun Maguire criticized Huang's judgment but argued that he remained essential to U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence. Investor and All-In podcast host Jason Calacanis urged protection for Huang and Nvidia's technology.
Nvidia has scheduled its fiscal third-quarter results call for Nov. 17 at 5 p.m. ET. The House chairs have asked Huang to respond to their proposed briefing by Nov. 11.
