Former Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang has been asked to testify before the US Senate next month over his alleged relationship with a woman suspected of having links to Chinese intelligence. Senator Tim Scott, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, sent letters to Huang and US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Thursday requesting their appearance before the panel.
Scott asked Huang to testify voluntarily on December 3, warning that the committee could issue a subpoena if he declined. He said recent reports had raised serious concerns about national security and the protection of sensitive American technology. Lutnick has also been invited to appear before the committee in December over concerns surrounding the export of advanced Nvidia artificial intelligence chips to China. Reports have alleged that he delayed efforts to strengthen restrictions on the shipments, although a Commerce Department spokesperson said he had agreed to testify.
Separately, three committees in the US House of Representatives, covering intelligence, foreign affairs and China-related issues, have requested a closed-door interview with Huang on December 1st. The summons follows revelations about Huang’s alleged relationships. He admitted earlier in the week to being unfaithful to his wife after reports emerged of his relationship with Alice Huang, a former executive at Singapore-based Megaspeed who has been suspected of working for Chinese intelligence. She is not related to the Nvidia founder.
China has rejected the allegations against her, describing them as an attempt to smear the country. US Attorney General Todd Blanche also said the Department of Justice had not reached any conclusion on whether Alice Huang was involved in espionage. Further reports alleged that Huang had another relationship with Kimberly Powell, a longtime Nvidia executive who reportedly worked directly under him. The revelations intensified concerns among company employees, although Nvidia has declined to comment on the allegations.
Nvidia previously announced an independent investigation into whether Huang had been targeted by a foreign intelligence operation. The company said it had no reason to believe that its trade secrets or US national security had been compromised. The controversy has also affected the company’s financial position. Nvidia reportedly lost approximately $550bn in market value over five days as its shares declined amid the growing scandal and wider uncertainty in the technology sector.
Huang had led Nvidia since 1993 and played a major role in its growth into one of the world’s most valuable technology companies. The company became particularly important to the artificial intelligence industry because of its powerful chips, which are widely used to develop and operate AI systems. Nvidia’s finance chief, Colette Kress, has been appointed interim chief executive while the company searches for a permanent replacement. Huang has been married to Lori Huang for 40 years, and their two children also hold executive positions at Nvidia.
Jensen Huang has been asked to testify before US lawmakers over allegations involving a woman suspected of Chinese intelligence links. The controversy has also raised national security concerns and contributed to a significant decline in Nvidia’s market value.
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