Nvidia CEO's Ties to Suspected Chinese Spy Reported Months Earlier

The close relationship between Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Alice Huang, who is alleged to be involved in Chinese espionage activities, was reported by short-selling firm Culper Research six months before the scandal broke.

Culper Research's May 13 report described the relationship between Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Alice Huang, an executive at Singapore-based chip buyer Megaspeed, as 'disturbingly close.' The report noted that Jensen Huang was frequently seen with Alice Huang in social settings and that Nvidia employees had questioned the relationship.

U.S. intelligence agencies suspect that Alice Huang was tasked by the Chinese government to gather intelligence from Jensen Huang and influence export controls on artificial intelligence chips. Nvidia has launched an official investigation into the matter following the CEO's admission of an extramarital affair.

Culper Research had alleged that Megaspeed was funded by Chinese tech giant Alibaba through shell companies. According to financial records, Megaspeed's liabilities rose from $33 million at the end of 2023 to approximately $3 billion by the end of 2024. The Financial Times confirmed that Alibaba provided credit to the company through its subsidiaries.

Assessment: As Culper Research is a short-selling firm, it has the potential to profit financially from these allegations. The claims regarding chip smuggling have not yet been independently verified.