Key facts
- U.S. intelligence officials believe Alice Huang was recruited by Chinese intelligence to gather information on Jensen Huang and influence Nvidia's export lobbying, per TechCrunch.
- Nvidia's independent directors are investigating the matter with outside legal counsel, and Congress is demanding answers, TechCrunch reported.
- Nvidia recorded $7.9 billion in revenue from customers headquartered in China in the three months ended July 26, roughly 8% of total revenue.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly warned officials close to Trump about Huang's relationship with an alleged spy, per TechCrunch.
- Nvidia did not respond to a request for comment, TechCrunch said.
Nvidia's independent directors are investigating CEO Jensen Huang's affair with Alice Huang, a former executive at Megaspeed, an Nvidia customer, TechCrunch reported on November 9, 2026. The directors are working with outside legal counsel, and Congress is demanding answers, according to the report.
The Financial Times reported on the relationship on Friday, November 6, 2026. Jensen Huang admitted the affair and apologized in a memo to the company on Sunday, November 8, 2026, TechCrunch reported. U.S. intelligence officials believe Alice Huang was recruited by Chinese intelligence to gather information about the CEO and influence the company's efforts to loosen chip export restrictions, according to the report.
TechCrunch reported that Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned officials close to President Donald Trump earlier in 2026 about Huang's relationship with an alleged spy. Nvidia did not respond to a request for comment, the outlet said.
The affair touches Nvidia's China business, which has shrunk under strict U.S. export controls. In the three months ended July 26, Nvidia recorded $7.9 billion in revenue from customers headquartered in China, roughly 8% of total revenue, according to TechCrunch. Huang has lobbied the U.S. government to expand access to China, and the administration reversed restrictions on Nvidia's H20 chips and allowed exports of its H200 processors after his meetings with Trump and administration officials in 2025, the report said.
Reuters reported that about 600,000 H200 chips are being held in Hong Kong awaiting shipment to mainland China, TechCrunch said, while Beijing pushes AI companies to buy from Chinese suppliers.