Nvidia CEO admits to affair with woman suspected of being Chinese spy; company launches probe

Washington: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has admitted to having an affair with a woman suspected by the US of being a Chinese spy, in an email sent to employees following the company's announcement of an internal investigation.

The controversy came to light after The New York Times reported on November 7 that a woman identified as Alice Huang had developed a close relationship with Jensen Huang and was suspected of working for Chinese intelligence.

In the email, Jensen Huang stressed that he remained fully committed to Nvidia and would work to regain the trust of employees. "I was unfaithful to my wife. My actions hurt her and our children. There is no justification for what I did. I sincerely apologise," he wrote.

According to the report, Alice Huang is an executive at Asian technology firm Megaspeed International. US intelligence officials reportedly informed the Trump administration that they believed the agency had assigned her to gather information from Huang on behalf of Beijing's Ministry of State Security.

Huang acknowledged that his family had always shown him love and support but said he had let them down. "I take full responsibility for what I have done and the pain I have caused, and I accept the criticism that will follow. Leading Nvidia is a privilege of my life. I have failed in fulfilling that responsibility. I will work to regain your trust," he said in the email.

Meanwhile, Nvidia has launched an independent investigation following the allegations against its CEO. Company officials said the board had no reason to believe that national security information or Nvidia's confidential information had been compromised, but would examine all available information as part of the probe. Huang has welcomed the investigation.