In brief
The board of Nvidia, in an Istanbul statement on November 9 2026, announced an independent inquiry after reports that Jensen Huang was targeted by a foreign intelligence effort tied to China. A panel of independent directors will work with external legal counsel, and the board stresses no sign of national‑security or company‑secret compromise. Huang has pledged to cooperate and will remain CEO during the probe, while a New York Times report revealed Huang’s relationship with Alice Huang of Singapore‑based Megaspeed, a company linked to China’s Ministry of State Security.
In a statement released on November 9, 2026 in Istanbul, Nvidia’s board of directors announced that it would launch an independent investigation after reports that the company’s founder and chief executive, Jensen Huang, had been targeted by a foreign intelligence operation tied to China.
The board said a committee composed of independent directors, assisted by external legal counsel, would review all relevant information and assess any potential risks to the company’s operations and the United States’ national security. The committee would also examine whether any company secrets had been compromised and how the alleged targeting may have impacted Nvidia’s business interests.
National‑Security Emphasis
The announcement emphasized that protecting American national security and economic interests is a core priority for Nvidia. The board stressed that the company has no reason to believe that either national security or Nvidia secrets were compromised during the alleged operation. The statement also noted that the investigation will proceed while Huang remains CEO and that he has fully committed to cooperating with the inquiry.
Allegations About Megaspeed
Sources cited that the U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, oversaw a classified intelligence memo in spring 2026 that warned top officials about Huang’s relationship with Alice Huang, a senior executive at Singapore‑based Megaspeed. Megaspeed has been investigated by federal authorities for allegedly funneling restricted artificial‑intelligence semiconductors into mainland China. The New York Times reported that Huang acknowledged to the board that he had been “intimate” with Alice Huang.
“There is no excuse for what I did. I am deeply sorry,” Huang said in a message to the company, adding that he had been “unfaithful” to his wife and that his actions had hurt both his wife and his children.
Huang’s apology, released to employees, came after The New York Times article that described the relationship as standard commercial engagement, noting that Megaspeed never received classified corporate data or trade secrets. China’s state media, in October, dismissed the allegations as “unsubstantiated” and “nothing but a smear against China.”
While the independent investigation continues, Nvidia’s board maintains that the probe will help eliminate any lingering doubts about the company’s security posture. The outcome of the inquiry will likely shape future interactions with foreign entities and clarify the scope of the alleged intelligence targeting.
