US LAWMAKERS SUMMON NVIDIA EX-CEO HUANG OVER ALLEGED CHINESE SPY LINKS

US lawmakers have summoned Jensen Huang, a prominent figure in the artificial intelligence industry, to answer questions in December following his resignation as Nvidia’s chief executive amid allegations of extramarital affairs, including one involving a woman suspected of being a Chinese spy.

The controversy has reportedly wiped nearly half a trillion dollars off Nvidia’s market valuation, raising concerns about US national security and creating uncertainty within the global artificial intelligence industry.

Republican Senator Tim Scott raised concerns over the development in a post on X on Thursday, citing potential threats to national security and the protection of sensitive American technology.

“Recent reports raise serious concerns about our national security and the protection of sensitive US technology,” Scott wrote.

Scott, who chairs the Senate Banking Committee, said he had requested Huang and US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to appear before the committee in December.

The move follows a separate request by three committees of the House of Representatives for a closed-door interview with the 63-year-old businessman on December 1, warning that he could face a subpoena if he failed to cooperate.

Huang, who has been married to his wife, Lori, for more than 40 years, reportedly admitted on Sunday to having an affair with Alice Huang, a former senior executive at Singapore-based data centre company Megaspeed. The two are not related.

A US intelligence report reportedly circulated in the spring alleged that Alice Huang was an operative of China’s Ministry of State Security. However, Beijing has rejected the allegations.

On Wednesday, The New York Times reported another alleged affair involving Huang, citing a video showing him displaying affection towards Nvidia’s Vice President of Healthcare, Kimberly Powell.

As Nvidia’s board searches for a permanent replacement, Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress has been appointed interim CEO.

Huang spent 33 years leading Nvidia, the technology company he co-founded, before his departure.

The company experienced unprecedented growth following the launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT in 2022, which triggered a global race to develop artificial intelligence technology. Nvidia’s processors, initially designed for video game graphics, became essential components for training and operating AI systems.

Trump’s informal adviser

Nvidia did not disclose the reason for Huang’s departure, which also saw him relinquish his seat on the company’s board.

According to the company, Huang remains its largest individual shareholder, with an ownership stake of approximately 3.6 per cent.

The Taiwan-born businessman was also an informal adviser to US President Donald Trump on artificial intelligence and had spent years lobbying against restrictions on the sale of advanced AI chips to China on national security grounds.

Reacting to the development, Dan Ives of investment bank Yorkville Ives described it as “a dark day for Nvidia and the US tech industry.”

However, he said the company’s board had taken the necessary decision to move forward without Huang and begin a new chapter.

The board appointed Harvey Jones, a former chief executive of chip design software company Synopsys, as its chairman.

It also assured investors that the company’s operations and product development plans would continue without disruption.

Kress, who joined Nvidia in 2013, previously spent nearly 25 years working with companies including Cisco and Microsoft.

Trump, who had supported Huang throughout the controversy, suggested that former Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook should replace him.

“A Legend replaces a Legend!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, praising Cook for transforming Apple into one of the world’s leading companies within a relatively short period.

Singapore, Malaysia probe allegations

Meanwhile, Singapore announced on Thursday that it had barred Alice Huang, a Chinese national, from re-entering the country in February after she allegedly provided investigators with inaccurate information about her role at Megaspeed.

However, authorities clarified that she was not investigated for espionage.

Nvidia’s board had earlier launched an investigation into reports that Huang was the target of a foreign intelligence operation, while maintaining that it retained confidence in him.

When asked on Thursday whether Huang was right to resign, Trump said his response would depend on whether the woman involved was actually a spy.

“If the woman was a spy, yes. If the woman was not a spy, perhaps it would be different,” he said.

Trump, however, expressed confidence that Huang would recover from the controversy, revealing that he had spoken with him the previous day.

“I spoke to him yesterday. He’s going through hell. What he feels most badly about is his wife and family,” Trump added.

The allegations have attracted attention amid growing competition between the United States and China for dominance in the artificial intelligence industry, widely regarded as a major driver of the next industrial revolution.

Several influential US lawmakers, including Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, called on Thursday for explanations about what the Trump administration knew regarding Huang’s alleged links to a suspected Chinese intelligence operative.

The calls came days before Trump was expected to travel to China for a summit.

Reports have also alleged that the US Commerce Department, under Lutnick, may have failed to act on suspicions that Megaspeed was helping to divert restricted Nvidia technology to China.

Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs said it had repeatedly requested information from the US Department of Justice and the FBI about a US server supplier during its investigation into Megaspeed but received limited information or assistance.

Meanwhile, Malaysia announced that it would investigate a subsidiary of Megaspeed International over the possible diversion of advanced artificial intelligence chips to other countries.