US memo alleges China recruited Megaspeed executive to spy on Nvidia CEO

A classified US intelligence memo alleges that China's Ministry of State Security recruited Alice Huang, an executive at Singapore-based data center company Megaspeed, to gather information on Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and influence policy surrounding the export of Nvidia's AI chips to China. The memo circulated among top Trump administration officials and senior members of Congress earlier this year, according to reports by The New York Times, the Financial Times, and other outlets.

The memo's allegations

The memo alleges that Alice Huang, also known as Huang Le, was recruited by Beijing's Ministry of State Security to collect intelligence on Jensen Huang as part of an effort to learn more about US AI chips and potentially influence Nvidia to push for its most advanced chips to be made available in China. The two Huangs are not related.

The Financial Times reported that the memo also alleged Jensen Huang had a romantic relationship with Alice Huang. The relationship was reportedly monitored by US intelligence agencies for more than a year. The two were photographed together at a bar in Taipei in June 2024.

Responses and denials

Nvidia spokesperson John Rizzo said the company does not share classified information with its customers and that customers do not ask Nvidia to press the US government to change its policies on chip sales to China. Rizzo called Jensen Huang's interactions with Alice Huang "not unusual" and consistent with the kinds of meetings he has with any of Nvidia's many customers.

Chinese embassy spokesperson Liu Chang described the New York Times reporting as "unsubstantiated" and "nothing but smears against China."

Congressional action

On November 5, the Republican leaders of three influential US House committees requested that Jensen Huang appear before them later in November in a closed-door briefing regarding his interactions with Alice Huang. The House China Committee said the letter outlined the lawmakers' concerns about those contacts, as well as Nvidia's measures against spying by adversaries.

The New York Times reported on October 29 that US intelligence agencies were conducting electronic surveillance of Alice Huang, a Chinese citizen, for at least a year. The existence of the memo and the assessment by US officials that Alice Huang was working directly for the main Chinese intelligence agency have not previously been reported. No charges have been filed and no evidence has been made public.

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Sources

• techcrunch.com: Megaspeed exec was recruited to spy on Nvidia CEO, according to US intelligence memo | TechCrunch
• ynetnews.com: Secret US intelligence memo alleges Nvidia CEO had affair with suspected Chinese spy
• startupfortune.com: US intelligence memo says China recruited a Megaspeed executive to spy on Nvidia's Jensen Huang - Startup Fortune
• wionews.com: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang had a romantic relationship with alleged Chinese spy, Alice? US intelligence memo raises alarm
• businesstimes.com.sg: China recruited exec at Singapore data centre firm to spy on Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang: US intelligence - The Business Times
• secnews.gr: Megaspeed: China "recruits" executive for Nvidia CEO

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.