Nvidia has hired prominent New York law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz to investigate allegations surrounding its chief executive, Jensen Huang, and his reported romantic relationship with a woman suspected by the US government of spying for China.
Huang, who co-founded Nvidia and has overseen its rise into one of the world’s most valuable companies, admitted to having a romantic relationship with a woman outside his marriage.
The woman, identified as Alice Huang, is alleged to have links to Beijing’s intelligence operations. She previously served as an executive at Singapore-based company Megaspeed, which has done business with Nvidia.
In a statement on Tuesday, Nvidia announced that Wachtell attorney Joon Kim would lead what it described as “a thorough and independent investigation” into the matter. The FBI is also conducting a separate investigation.
The controversy has raised concerns because of Nvidia’s strategic importance to the global technology industry and the US artificial intelligence boom.
The company is the leading manufacturer of advanced computer chips used to power AI systems, making its relationship with a suspected Chinese intelligence operative a matter of potential business and national security significance.
Megaspeed had previously faced suspicions of helping divert Nvidia chips to China, although Nvidia has maintained that the concerns were investigated and debunked.
