In a move to address recent controversies, tech giant Nvidia has enlisted the services of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, a prominent New York law firm, to conduct an independent investigation into the romantic affair between its CEO Jensen Huang and an alleged Chinese spy. The woman in question, Alice Huang, is reportedly an executive at Singapore-based company Megaspeed, a customer of Nvidia. The FBI is also reportedly conducting its own probe into these allegations. Jensen Huang's relationship with an executive from an Nvidia client, suspected by the US government to be spying for China, raises concerns both in business and national security spheres. The affair has sent Nvidia's shares plummeting, wiping off over half a trillion dollars from the company's stock market value since last week.
The investigation will delve into the potential implications of Jensen Huang's relationship with Alice Huang. Megaspeed had earlier been under suspicion for helping divert Nvidia chips to China, allegations that Nvidia has denied. The US government, however, is yet to inform Nvidia about any intelligence concerns regarding Megaspeed. According to the New York Times, a memo was sent by Secretary of State Marco Rubio to top Washington officials this spring warning about Jensen Huang's relationship with a Chinese spy. China, on the other hand, has rejected these claims, stating they are intended to smear and malign the country.
The investigation will be headed by Joon Kim, a former US Attorney for New York's Southern District, known for his work in fraud and criminal cases. Wachtell, the law firm retained by Nvidia, is one of the largest in the US and boasts notable tech industry clients such as OpenAI and Salesforce. The investigation is expected to be treated urgently due to the public image implications for Jensen Huang, who has become a key figure in the development of AI.
It remains uncertain whether Alice Huang, also known as Huang Le, will be accessible for interview during the investigation. Nvidia declined to comment on whether Jensen Huang had secured additional legal representation amid the company investigation and the separate one launched by the FBI. The House Committee on Foreign Affairs has requested a closed-door briefing with Jensen Huang next week, although it is yet to be confirmed if he will attend. If necessary, the committee has the authority to subpoena him to appear before them. Nvidia's board has stated that they have no reason to believe the company's secrets or national security were compromised by this affair, and a committee of independent directors will oversee the probe.