Policy & Drama

The US is winning the AI race. Jensen Huang could have blown it

As espionage targets go, Jensen Huang is perhaps one of the least surprising on Earth. The Nvidia CEO runs one of the world's most valuable companies, controls the in-demand technology fueling the AI boom, and is cozy with presidents, CEOs, and all manner of important people. He also wears a cool leather jacket. Which makes Huang's admission that he had an affair with a woman suspected of being a Chinese spy - reportedly while her spying was known to US intelligence and even Pr

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The CEO of a major chip company admitted to an affair with a woman suspected of being a Chinese spy, an incident that experts say threatens to disrupt the entire US AI industry and national security. The chip company controls in-demand technology powering the AI boom and is a gatekeeper to hardware that has become a key bottleneck in global AI development, making access to its products crucial for both American and Chinese AI advancement. China has been restricted from purchasing the most advanced chips from this company in an effort to slow its AI progress, though a black market for restricted chips has emerged and companies linked to the suspected spy have reportedly enabled billions in chip sales to China. Experts warn that disruptions to the company from ongoing investigations could slow American AI development at a critical moment, potentially allowing Chinese competitors to narrow a technological gap that currently spans only months.

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Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang resigns amid spy, affair scandals

Jensen Huang at GTC Berlin last month. | Photo: Soeren Stache / picture alliance via Getty Images Nvidia's board has ousted Jensen Huang, its longtime co-founder, president, and CEO, after reports of two extramarital affairs - one with an alleged Chinese spy and one with an Nvidia executive who reported to Huang. A press release published Thursday morning announced Huang's resignation, effective immediately, as current CFO Colette Kress has been appointed interim CEO. Huang has

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Nvidia is reportedly preparing to fire Jensen Huang

Nvidia's board is preparing to dismiss CEO Jensen Huang following a report from the New York Times about a second alleged extramarital affair, just days after he admitted to a separate affair with a woman alleged to be a Chinese spy, The Wall Street Journal reports. The second alleged affair was with an executive who reports to him, Nvidia's vice president of health care, Kimberly Powell, according to the Times, saying the two may have been captured on video "being affectionate

Also reported by TechCrunch and Wired AI

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The unfolding Jensen Huang scandal: a timeline

The affair could have ramifications for national security as the U.S. and China race to develop the most advanced AI infrastructure.

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Jensen Huang accused of having another affair, with an Nvidia exec

Jensen Huang, who has come under fire for admitting to an affair with a woman accused of being a Chinese intelligence agent, has been accused of having a separate affair with an Nvidia subordinate.

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Congress to call Jensen Huang in to answer for alleged Chinese spy affair

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has until the end of the day Wednesday to answer a call from House Republicans for a closed-door briefing on his affair with alleged Chinese spy.

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Nvidia is investigating Jensen Huang’s relationship with a Chinese spy

Nvidia has announced that it is opening an investigation into CEO Jensen Huang and his relationship with Megaspeed executive Alice Huang, who was reportedly recruited by China's Ministry of State Security to spy on the company. A statement posted by the board of directors reads: The NVIDIA Board is initiating an independent investigation in light of recent reporting that founder and CEO Jensen Huang has been the target of a foreign intelligence effort. A committee of independe

Also reported by TechCrunch, Wired AI and Data Center Knowledge