Nvidia has launched an independent investigation into whether CEO Jensen Huang was targeted by a foreign intelligence operation, following reports linking him to a Chinese businesswoman allegedly involved in passing information to Beijing.
The company's board said on Sunday that it had no reason to believe US national security or Nvidia's trade secrets had been compromised. An independent committee, assisted by outside legal counsel, will oversee the investigation.
The allegations involve Alice Huang, a former executive of Singapore-based technology company Megaspeed, which has faced scrutiny over suspected attempts to obtain advanced Nvidia AI chips restricted for export to China.
Jensen Huang acknowledged personal misconduct in a message to employees, apologising to his family and colleagues. He also pledged to cooperate fully with the investigation and continue leading the company.
The controversy has raised concerns among investors, with Nvidia shares falling more than 6 per cent in Frankfurt trading on Monday, amid uncertainty surrounding the world's leading AI chipmaker.
-AH