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U.S. officials say China recruited Nvidia customer to target Jensen Huang

The Japan Times, carrying The New York Times, says a spring memo cited intelligence that Alice Huang of Megaspeed was an MSS asset targeting Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.

By AI reporterBenny Sato · WhatsNewPaper Desk

U.S. intelligence described Alice Huang, a Chinese executive at Singapore data-center firm Megaspeed, as recruited by China's Ministry of State Security to collect information on Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang, according to reporting first published by The New York Times and carried by The Japan Times1,2,3.

People briefed on the intelligence told the Times, as reprinted, that a memo circulated among senior Trump administration policymakers last spring, describing her as an MSS asset in a close relationship with Jensen Huang, who is not related to her1,2. The Verge said the reported aims included learning more about U.S. AI chips and possibly influencing Nvidia to push for its most advanced chips to be available to China2.

The Verge said President Donald Trump was briefed last year on the relationship and did not act2. Engadget, citing the Financial Times, said U.S. officials believe the relationship was romantic, that Trump was notified before a trip to Beijing that included Jensen Huang and Elon Musk, and that Jensen Huang was not told he was a target4.

Republican leaders of three House committees asked Jensen Huang to appear for a closed-door briefing on the interactions, The Verge said2.

Megaspeed is an Nvidia customer that purchased AI chips at large scale, Engadget said, and has built data centers in Southeast Asia whose computing power is rented to Alibaba, a path around U.S. limits on selling those chips directly to China4. Engadget said the Financial Times reported Megaspeed was implicated in a scheme to smuggle advanced AI chips into China, and that Nvidia's internal investigation found no evidence of wrongdoing4.

What Beijing sought from the relationship, whether classified information changed hands, and how Congress will treat the closed-door request remain unanswered in the public accounts1,2,4.

Sources

  1. The Japan TimesChina’s top spy agency recruited woman who targeted Nvidia’s Jensen Huang
  2. The VergeChina reportedly recruited AI exec to spy on Jensen Huang
  3. New York TimesChina’s Top Spy Agency Recruited Woman Who Targeted Jensen Huang
  4. EngadgetChina's main intelligence agency reportedly recruited the spy who targeted NVIDIA's CEO

Read the original at The Japan Times ↗

How it’s being reported

4 sources

First reported by The VergeThe Verge

Where they agree

  • U.S. intelligence assessed Alice Huang as recruited by China's Ministry of State Security to target Jensen Huang.
  • The reported goals included AI-chip intelligence and possible influence over advanced-chip access for China.
  • House Republicans asked Jensen Huang for a closed-door briefing.
  • Trump was briefed and did not act, according to these accounts.

Where they differ

Nature of the relationship between Alice Huang and Jensen Huang

Side by side

Each outlet's article broken down by our newsroom, in our own words. To read what they wrote, use the button under each one.

The Japan TimesThe Japan Times

China’s top spy agency recruited woman who targeted Nvidia’s Jensen Huang

The previously unreported memo and U.S. assessment that she worked directly for China's main intelligence agency.

Carries The New York Times report: a spring memo cited intelligence that Alice Huang was an MSS asset targeting Jensen Huang.

The previously unreported memo and U.S. assessment that she worked directly for China's main intelligence agency.

What it reports

  • The Japan Times, carrying The New York Times, says a memo circulated among senior Trump administration policymakers last spring.
  • It says people briefed on the intelligence described Alice Huang as a Chinese businessperson in a close relationship with Jensen Huang and a spy for China's Ministry of State Security.
  • It says she was recruited to collect intelligence on Jensen Huang as part of a drive to learn more about U.S. AI chips and potentially influence Nvidia on advanced-chip access for China.
Read the original at The Japan Times Read the full article at The Japan Times
The VergeThe Verge

China reportedly recruited AI exec to spy on Jensen Huang

Megaspeed as an Nvidia customer and House committees seeking a closed-door briefing.

Summarizes the Times: MSS enlisted Megaspeed's Alice Huang for AI-chip intelligence and possible influence on advanced-chip access for China.

Leaves out Nvidia's on-record response and Chinese embassy comment carried in the Times reprint.

Megaspeed as an Nvidia customer and House committees seeking a closed-door briefing.

What it reports

  • The Verge says China's Ministry of State Security recruited Megaspeed executive Alice Huang to gather information on Jensen Huang.
  • It says the reported aim was intelligence on U.S. AI chips and possible influence to make advanced chips available to China.
  • It notes Megaspeed is an Nvidia customer and that Alice Huang is not related to Jensen Huang.
  • It says President Trump was briefed last year on the relationship and did not act.
  • It says three House committees asked Jensen Huang to appear for a closed-door briefing on the interactions.

Leaves out Nvidia's on-record response and Chinese embassy comment carried in the Times reprint.

Read the original at The Verge Read the full article at The Verge
New York TimesNew York Times

China’s Top Spy Agency Recruited Woman Who Targeted Jensen Huang

The intelligence conclusion that she was an MSS asset close to Nvidia's leader.

Original reporting, largely paywalled here: U.S. intelligence concluded Alice Huang was an asset of Beijing’s Ministry of State Security.

The intelligence conclusion that she was an MSS asset close to Nvidia's leader.

What it reports

  • The New York Times headline and listing say China's top spy agency recruited a woman who targeted Jensen Huang.
Read the original at New York Times Read the full article at New York Times
EngadgetEngadget

China's main intelligence agency reportedly recruited the spy who targeted NVIDIA's CEO

Romance assessment from U.S. intelligence via the FT, and Megaspeed's chip-access path through Southeast Asia.

Adds Financial Times reporting that U.S. officials believe the relationship was romantic, and details Megaspeed's data-center work for Alibaba.

Leaves out Nvidia's full on-record denial of policy lobbying by customers.

Romance assessment from U.S. intelligence via the FT, and Megaspeed's chip-access path through Southeast Asia.

What it reports

  • Engadget says the Times identified China's Ministry of State Security as the agency that recruited Alice Huang.
  • It says U.S. officials, according to the Financial Times, believe Jensen Huang was romantically involved with her.
  • It says Trump was notified before a Beijing trip that included Jensen Huang and Elon Musk and took no action.
  • It says Jensen Huang was not briefed that he was being targeted.
  • It says Megaspeed bought Nvidia chips at scale, rented compute to Alibaba, and that Nvidia found no wrongdoing in an internal probe of a reported smuggling scheme.

Leaves out Nvidia's full on-record denial of policy lobbying by customers.

Read the original at Engadget Read the full article at Engadget