[Edaily KIM YOON JI Reporter Song Jae-min] NVIDIA has launched an independent investigation into allegations of Chinese espionage targeting CEO Jensen Huang. With the U.S. Congress also demanding an explanation, NVIDIA—which has led the AI semiconductor market—is facing a test of its security systems and management stability. Korean companies such as SamsungElectronics and SK hynix, which supply high-bandwidth memory (HBM) to NVIDIA, are also closely monitoring the situation.
On the 8th (local time), NVIDIA’s board of directors announced that a committee composed of independent directors, assisted by outside counsel, would investigate reports that CEO Huang was the target of foreign intelligence-gathering activities. The board reaffirmed its confidence in CEO Huang and the management team, stating that there is currently no basis to believe that U.S. national security or company confidential information has been compromised.
In an email to employees, CEO Huang admitted to and apologized for an inappropriate relationship with a woman suspected of being a Chinese spy. He stated that he would cooperate fully with the investigation. This incident began with an initial report by The New York Times (NYT) last month. Citing U.S. intelligence officials, the NYT reported that a former female executive at the Singapore-based data center company Megaspeed, identified as Alice Huang (Chinese name: Huang Le), a Chinese national, had maintained a “close relationship” with CEO Huang and had been leaking information to China. MegaSpeed is currently under investigation by U.S. authorities over allegations that it diverted NVIDIA’s cutting-edge chips to China. President Trump’s response has also sparked controversy. The NYT reported that President Trump failed to take action even after receiving a briefing on the matter from U.S. intelligence officials about a year ago. The Republican chairmen of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs, China Special Committee, and Intelligence Committees have requested that CEO Huang attend a joint closed-door briefing on the 18th of this month.
The South Korean semiconductor industry, including SamsungElectronics and SK hynix, is also closely monitoring the impact this situation may have on the supply of High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM) and the development of next-generation semiconductors. This is because changes in NVIDIA’s management structure could become a key variable, given that the companies are currently expanding their collaboration with NVIDIA to include the joint development of next-generation products.
A semiconductor industry official stated, “Since NVIDIA’s production of AI accelerators and memory supply proceed according to inter-company contracts and technology development plans, the likelihood of immediate disruptions to business operations is low.” The official added, “However, as this situation introduces many variables that could affect NVIDIA’s management control, we are examining the matter internally.”