Nvidia's board of directors is launching an independent investigation after CEO Jensen Huang admitted to having an affair with a woman U.S. intelligence officials suspect was recruited by China to gather information on him, adding a new dimension to growing national security concerns surrounding the company's business ties to China.

In a draft email to employees obtained by Axios, Huang acknowledged being unfaithful to his wife, apologizing to his family and colleagues and accepting responsibility for his actions. The admission follows reporting identifying the woman as Alice Huang, an executive at Singapore-based technology company Megaspeed International, an Nvidia customer. Axios reported that Jensen Huang's admission concerned a romantic relationship with the woman identified in U.S. intelligence reporting as a suspected Chinese spy.

According to reporting by The New York Times, U.S. intelligence officials believe Alice Huang was recruited by China's Ministry of State Security to gather information about Jensen Huang and potentially influence Nvidia's position on restrictions preventing the export of advanced artificial intelligence chips to China. The allegations were reportedly documented in an intelligence memorandum circulated among senior U.S. officials earlier this year.

The reported relationship raises questions about whether the intelligence operation could have provided Beijing with access to information about Nvidia's operations, its chief executive and the company's efforts to expand access to the Chinese market. Before Huang's admission, Nvidia had characterized his interactions with Alice Huang as routine business dealings and maintained that regional customers did not receive sensitive company trade secrets or information relevant to U.S. national security.

In a statement on Sunday, November 8, Nvidia's board announced that a committee of independent directors, assisted by outside independent legal counsel, would oversee an investigation examining all available information. The board said it currently has no reason to believe that U.S. national security or Nvidia's confidential information had been compromised.

Huang supports the investigation and has committed to cooperating with the review, according to the board. Nvidia also said the development would not disrupt the company's operations and that Huang remains committed to continuing as chief executive.

The allegations have also drawn congressional attention. Republican chairmen of three House committees have requested a closed-door briefing with Huang concerning his reported relationship with Alice Huang and the company's safeguards against foreign intelligence activity.

The investigation comes amid broader U.S. scrutiny of China's efforts to obtain advanced American semiconductor technology and Nvidia's role in the increasingly contested AI chip market.