Jensen Huang, co-founder and long-time CEO of Nvidia, the world’s largest AI chipmaker, has reportedly resigned as the company’s president, CEO and board member amid controversies involving an alleged affair, suspected Chinese espionage links and a $4.8 billion AI chip scandal.
Huang, 63, has led Nvidia since its establishment in 1993. His reported resignation has drawn global attention, given the company’s prominent role in the artificial intelligence industry.
Alleged Affair and Board Investigation
According to reports, Huang recently admitted to being unfaithful to his wife, Lori Huang, in an email to company employees. The controversy reportedly emerged on October 29. Nvidia initially described the association as a customer-dealer relationship. However, amid growing scrutiny, the company’s board reportedly launched an independent investigation on November 8, 2026, with the help of external legal experts.
Alleged Chinese Espionage Links and $4.8 Billion Chip Deal
The woman allegedly linked to Huang has been identified as Alice Huang (Huang Li), managing director of Singapore-based company Megaspeed. US intelligence officials reportedly suspect that she was trained by China’s Ministry of State Security to influence Nvidia’s chip supply policies and facilitate the transfer of sensitive information to Beijing.
According to reports, Megaspeed established a Malaysian subsidiary, Speedmetrics, in early 2024. Between June 2024 and February 2026, the company allegedly purchased at least $4.8 billion worth of advanced Nvidia chips. The hardware was reportedly rented to Chinese companies and hackers to provide access to restricted AI computing technology. Some chips were also allegedly shipped illegally to China. Nvidia subsequently removed Megaspeed from its cloud partner list.
Former Gujarat University Student Dr Aarti Shah’s Role
Dr Aarti Shah, an Indian-origin executive and former Gujarat University student, is also part of Nvidia’s board-level investigation. She studied mathematics and statistics at Gujarat University and worked at American pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly for 27 years.
Shah has served as an independent director on Nvidia’s board since November 2020 and is a member of its audit and compensation committees. Her role, alongside lead independent director Stephen Neal, is considered significant in the investigation.
Trump Defends Huang, US Congress Seeks Answers
US President Donald Trump reportedly defended Huang on November 9, describing him as a respected figure. Meanwhile, three US congressional committee chairpersons have reportedly sought a briefing on November 18 over national security and espionage concerns.
China’s embassy has dismissed the espionage allegations as baseless, while Singapore has confirmed that a financial investigation involving Megaspeed is underway.