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U.S. probed alleged Chinese spy targeting Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang
TechCrunch and Engadget, citing The New York Times, say U.S. agencies investigated whether a Megaspeed executive was a Chinese intelligence asset targeting Jensen Huang; Nvidia called the contact ordinary customer meetings.
- BBC and Ars Technica are now reporting this
- New headline Was: “NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang may have been the target of a Chinese government spy”
- Our desk filed its story
- Engadget and TechCrunch are now reporting this
- New headline Was: “Nvidia Chief, Jensen Huang, Is Seen as Target of Chinese Spy Plot”
U.S. intelligence agencies investigated whether a Singapore-based cloud executive was a Chinese intelligence asset targeting Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang, according to accounts of a New York Times report published Thursday1,2,3.
The executive, Alice Huang, also identified as Huang Le, worked at Megaspeed, a Singapore AI cloud company, TechCrunch reported2. Engadget said U.S. agencies surveilled her and found contact with an American later identified as Jensen Huang1.
TechCrunch said sources told the Times the concern was that Alice Huang had grown close enough to Jensen Huang to learn about Nvidia's plans and his efforts to persuade the Trump administration to allow more advanced chip shipments to China2.
Nvidia denied that the contact was unusual2. "Jensen's interactions with Ms. Huang are not unusual or unexpected. Meetings with customers are part of a C.E.O.'s job," a company spokesperson told TechCrunch2. The company said regional cloud customers receive ordinary business information, not trade secrets or material relevant to national security2.
Engadget said Megaspeed's Malaysian sister company bought at least $4.8 billion in Nvidia-based equipment in under two years, which the Times described as an unusual volume for a small firm1. TechCrunch said the Commerce Department investigated Megaspeed in 2025 over whether it helped Chinese companies get around AI chip export rules2.
Engadget said Alice Huang's public profile is thin, that she described herself as Megaspeed's CEO, and that the company listed her as managing director for about eight months before removing her from that role in paperwork1.
Engadget, citing the Times, said President Donald Trump was briefed about a year ago and took no public action, and that Jensen Huang was not given a defensive briefing that is sometimes provided to Americans believed to be targeted by foreign spies1. It said the Times did not establish why, and did not say what information, if any, was passed to Beijing1.
China's government and Alice Huang have not been quoted in the Engadget or TechCrunch accounts reviewed here1,2. What U.S. agencies concluded beyond the anonymous sourcing in the Times report remains unverified in public documents1,2,3.
Sources
How it’s being reported
5 sourcesFirst reported by 
TechCrunch
BBC
Show all
NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang may have been the target of a Chinese government spy
The White House reportedly taking no action and Huang not receiving a defensive briefing.
Engadget recaps a New York Times report that U.S. officials viewed Jensen Huang as the target of a Chinese intelligence operation and that President Trump was briefed and took no public action.
Leaves out Nvidia's on-record denial of unusual contact.
TechCrunchFirstU.S. investigated Chinese spy plot aimed at Nvidia CEO
Nvidia's denial and the alleged closeness as a way to learn Nvidia plans and lobbying on China shipments.
TechCrunch reports the Times investigation and adds Nvidia's statement that Jensen Huang's meetings with Alice Huang were ordinary customer contact.
Leaves out The $4.8 billion purchase figure highlighted by Engadget.
Nvidia Chief, Jensen Huang, Is Seen as Target of Chinese Spy Plot
Gives this outlet’s account of the story.
China denies allegations of spy operation targeting Nvidia CEO
Gives this outlet’s account of the story.
US intelligence officials believe a Chinese businesswoman was gathering information for Beijing on the US chip-making giant, The New York Times reports. BBC News
Trump ignored intel on China’s Nvidia spy to protect company’s stock, report says
Leads with what someone said.
Spy accused of exploiting Trump ties to Huang, funneling secrets to China.
Where they agree
- Both Engadget and TechCrunch attribute the core allegations to The New York Times.
- Both identify Alice Huang as a Megaspeed executive who had contact with Jensen Huang.
- Both tie Megaspeed to prior U.S. concern about Nvidia chips reaching China.
Where they differ
How unusual the Huang-Huang contact was