Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is facing scrutiny over reports of an alleged extramarital relationship with a Chinese businesswoman suspected of having links to Beijing's intelligence apparatus, prompting the board of the chipmaker to examine the matter, according to media reports.

The controversy centres on Alice Huang, also known as Huang Le, a former senior executive at Singapore-based Megaspeed. She is not related to Jensen Huang, the 63-year-old Taiwanese-born head of Nvidia, the world's most valuable company, valued at around $4.5 trillion.

Reports by The New York Times, The Financial Times and other publications have alleged that Alice Huang was recruited by China's Ministry of State Security to collect information about the Nvidia chief and potentially influence the company's position on selling advanced artificial intelligence chips to China.

The precise circumstances of the pair's relationship, including when they first met and how long it lasted, remain unclear. However, photographs reportedly show Alice Huang alongside Jensen Huang at a Taipei bar in June 2024, where the Nvidia chief was also seen socialising with executives from technology companies Gigabyte and NetThunder.

The period coincided with Megaspeed beginning a major procurement of Nvidia's advanced chips. The company reportedly purchased more than $4.8 billion worth of Nvidia processors over the past two years, making it one of the chipmaker's largest customers in Southeast Asia.

Alice Huang was photographed again in May the following year, standing behind Jensen Huang outside a restaurant in Taipei as he addressed journalists. By then, Megaspeed's business dealings had reportedly attracted the attention of US authorities.

ALLEGED INTELLIGENCE LINKS RAISE NATIONAL SECURITY QUESTIONS

According to reports citing a classified intelligence memo, Chinese intelligence officials had sought to use Alice Huang to gather information about Nvidia's leadership and potentially shape the company's approach to the Chinese market.

US authorities reportedly found that Megaspeed's leadership was transmitting information to Beijing. The allegations have brought renewed attention to the risks surrounding the international trade in advanced semiconductors, which have become central to the global AI race.

Washington has imposed restrictions on exports of high-performance Nvidia chips to China, citing national security concerns. While the Biden administration maintained tight controls, Jensen Huang has argued against excessively restrictive rules, warning that limiting access to the Chinese market could weaken US technology companies' competitiveness.

Following Donald Trump's return to the White House, the debate over semiconductor exports has continued to attract political attention.

WHO IS ALICE HUANG?

Alice Huang, also identified as Huang Le, is a Chinese citizen who held a senior position at Megaspeed, a Singapore-based company involved in procuring Nvidia chips.

Her professional background has also come under scrutiny. Profiles in Chinese private investment databases reportedly describe her as a former television journalist who worked with Hunan TV and state broadcaster CCTV. She is also said to have held a position at HSBC's private banking division before becoming vice-president at CITIC Securities.

However, questions have been raised about parts of her reported career history. A Hunan TV executive reportedly told the New York Post that he did not recognise her, while the publication said it could not find a corresponding profile on CCTV's website.

Chinese investment records have also linked Huang to Shanghai Hexi Investment Management, where she reportedly served as an executive director and fund manager. The firm has been associated with Chinese gaming company 7Road.

Megaspeed's corporate history has also been traced to 7Road International, the Singapore-based overseas arm of the gaming business. Founded in 2023, Megaspeed was reportedly owned by Huang Le Limited, a company led by Alice Huang, before being sold to Swiftdata in the same year. Despite the ownership change, she continued to be publicly associated with the business.

TRUMP SAYS US WILL EXAMINE REPORTS

The allegations have also drawn attention in Washington because of Jensen Huang's relationship with the Trump administration. The Nvidia chief is a member of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology and has accompanied Trump on overseas visits.

Asked about the reports at a Halloween event on October 31, Trump described the situation as complicated and said he hoped everything was well with Huang. He also said he had always regarded the Nvidia chief as an aboveboard individual and that the administration would examine the matter closely.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declined to comment on Sunday, saying he could not discuss the issue because of its nature or an internal corporate matter involving Nvidia.

NVIDIA'S BUSINESS STRENGTH REMAINS UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT

The controversy comes as Nvidia continues to dominate the market for processors used in artificial intelligence systems. Its high-end chips have become essential infrastructure for companies developing and operating advanced AI models.

Based in Santa Clara, California, Nvidia has repeatedly exceeded Wall Street's earnings forecasts during the AI boom. The company reported quarterly profits of $59.69 billion in August.

The reported relationship and alleged intelligence links have therefore raised questions extending beyond Huang's personal life, particularly around the security of corporate information, the company's exposure to Chinese business networks and the geopolitical implications of its chip sales.