Chipmaker Nvidia is launching an investigation into its CEO, Jensen Huang, after it was reported that he had an affair with a Chinese woman who was recruited to spy for Beijing.
Transcription
LEILA FADEL, PRESENTER:
The most valuable company in the world investigates its own CEO.
STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
Nvidia is a designer of computer chips for AI. And he’s investigating their leader Jensen Huang. The question is whether he left himself exposed to Chinese espionage. Nvidia produces some of the most sophisticated chips in the world, sparking a constant debate about whether they should be sold to China.
FADEL: NPR technology correspondent John Ruwitch is here to tell us more. Good morning, Juan.
JOHN RUWITCH, BYLINE: Good morning.
FADEL: So why did Nvidia start this investigation?
RUWITCH: Yes. The board was following up on as-yet-unconfirmed reports by NPR that CEO Jensen Huang had an affair with a Chinese woman who U.S. intelligence agencies believe was recruited by China’s top spy agency to gather information on him and potentially try to influence U.S. policy. Nvidia did not mention China in its online announcement about the investigation. But he did say that the spark for this was reporting that Huang was, quote, “the target of a foreign intelligence effort.”
The company also released a memo that Huang sent to Nvidia staff admitting to having an affair and apologizing for it. In the memo, he said he supports the board’s investigation and will cooperate fully. Now, on China’s part, they have said that the accusations are baseless.
FADEL: Now, we don’t cover many stories about allegations of corporate espionage. Explain why Nvidia and Huang are different.
RUWITCH: Yes. There are two big reasons. Number one is that Nvidia is a linchpin of the American economy. It is one of the largest companies in the world. And right now, it’s at the heart of the AI revolution. It makes the most commonly used microchips for training and running AI. The second reason this is important is that Jensen Huang has enjoyed extraordinary access to the president of the United States. They talk on the phone. He even traveled to China with President Trump in May aboard Air Force One.
Now, according to media reports, Trump received intelligence about Huang’s relationship more than a year ago. And yesterday a journalist asked him if, in retrospect, he should have acted accordingly.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER #1: …Informed about…
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: No, I don’t think so.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER #1: …Last year’s spying?
TRUMP: I think – you know, I think he’s an honorable guy. I think I probably have an excuse for it, you know? And you have to hear it.
FADEL: What has been Huang’s stance on the AI race with China?
RUWITCH: Yes. The United States restricts exports of certain types of cutting-edge chips to China, including Nvidia’s best microchips. And Jensen Huang has argued that if we allowed China to buy these chips, they would be on the hook. Its own chip manufacturing industry will develop more slowly, and that would be good for the United States. However, Samuel Bresnick of Georgetown University says the spying allegations only raise a number of questions about what Huang has said.
SAMUEL BRESNICK: It calls into question that whole approach. This calls into question, you know, whether he acted in the best interest of the United States to some extent, right? Has the national security of the United States been compromised because of this relationship?
RUWITCH: And I should note that the Trump administration has loosened some of the chip export controls, and some Nvidia chips that were previously restricted can now be sold to China.
FADEL: What does this mean for Nvidia as the investigation progresses?
RUWITCH: A spokesperson said the investigation will not slow Nvidia and that Jensen Huang is committed to continuing to lead the company. So he’s still in charge. In its online statement, the company said the board has no reason to believe that Nvidia’s national security or secrets have been compromised. But this problem seems to be growing like a snowball. Last week, members of the House of Representatives requested that Huang attend a closed-door briefing about his interactions with the woman at the center of this whole matter.
FADEL: NPR’s John Ruwitch. Thanks, John.
RUWITCH: You’re welcome.
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