NVIDIA, one of the world’s biggest technology companies, is facing growing scrutiny after allegations surfaced linking its CEO, Jensen Huang, to a Chinese businesswoman suspected of having connections with Chinese intelligence. The controversy has prompted an independent investigation by NVIDIA’s board and drawn the attention of US President Donald Trump and the FBI.
Who Is Alice Huang?
The businesswoman at the centre of the controversy is Alice Huang, also known as Huang Le. She is not related to Jensen Huang. She became the controlling shareholder of Megaspeed International, a Singapore-based cloud computing company, in 2023.
NVIDIA lists Megaspeed as an official cloud partner. The company has attracted scrutiny from US authorities over suspicions that it may have helped Chinese customers obtain advanced NVIDIA chips restricted under American export controls.
A report by The New York Times alleged that US authorities had identified Alice Huang as a Chinese intelligence asset who shared information with Beijing while developing a relationship with Jensen Huang. However, Reuters said it could not independently verify the intelligence allegation. China has also rejected the accusations.
FBI and NVIDIA Board Step In
NVIDIA’s board has launched an independent investigation to determine whether Jensen Huang was targeted as part of a foreign intelligence operation. The company has stated that it has no reason to believe that national security information or trade secrets were compromised.
President Donald Trump said the FBI was looking into the matter. He also revealed that he had spoken with Jensen Huang, who told him he had no knowledge of the woman’s alleged intelligence links.
Shares Fall, Lawsuit Adds Pressure
The controversy has also affected investor sentiment. NVIDIA shares fell 4.3% on November 9, wiping approximately $190 billion off the company’s market value.
Meanwhile, a proposed shareholder class-action lawsuit has accused NVIDIA and Jensen Huang of misleading investors by allegedly concealing information related to the controversy.
The investigation and allegations remain unresolved, leaving the technology giant under intense public and political scrutiny.