Nvidia has hired Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz to investigate Jensen Huang’s relationship with a woman alleged to spy for Beijing.
A Nvidia investigation will examine chief executive Jensen Huang’s affair with a woman alleged to be a Chinese spy. The company announced on Tuesday that it had hired US law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz.
Huang, who co-founded the chipmaker, has acknowledged a romantic relationship outside his marriage. The woman, Alice Huang, also uses the name Huang Le and is not related to him.
Nvidia said attorney Joon Kim would lead a thorough, independent inquiry. Meanwhile, the FBI is conducting a separate investigation.
The company’s shares have fallen close to their lowest level of the year. Since Friday, Nvidia has lost about $500 billion in stock market value.
Nvidia investigation puts customer ties in focus
Alice Huang previously held an executive position at Megaspeed, a Singaporean company that has bought Nvidia products. Megaspeed had faced suspicions that it helped divert Nvidia chips to China.
However, Nvidia has maintained that an investigation examined and debunked those concerns. The chipmaker also said the US government had not informed it that Megaspeed posed an intelligence concern.
Nvidia plays a central role in the artificial intelligence boom through its computer chips. It ranks as the world’s second most valuable company, behind Apple.
Its chips also carry national security significance for US officials seeking to win the AI race. The inquiries therefore concern the leadership of a company at the centre of American technology priorities.
