China reportedly recruited an AI exec to spy on Jensen Huang

NYT: China's spy ministry recruited a Megaspeed exec to target Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.

According to The New York Times, as reported by The Verge, China's Ministry of State Security recruited Megaspeed executive Alice Huang to spy on Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. The NYT says the goal was to glean information about American AI chips and 'potentially influence the company to push for its most advanced chips to be made available to China.' She is not related to him; the NYT calls their relationship 'close.'

The NYT reported a week earlier that US officials determined Alice Huang was funneling information to Chinese intelligence. Megaspeed is a Singapore-based cloud company that has bought billions of dollars of Nvidia chips, per Ars Technica. The US has previously scrutinized Megaspeed over potential chip smuggling; no charges followed.

The chairs of the House committees on China, foreign affairs and intelligence have asked Jensen Huang to appear at a joint closed-door briefing on November 18 and discuss Nvidia's security protocols against 'foreign adversary espionage.' Nvidia rejects the claims, says its regional cloud customers receive 'zero information relevant to national security,' and has not said whether he will appear.

What to watch: whether Huang accepts the request for November 18.

The facts we checked

According to The New York Times, as reported by The Verge and Ars Technica (Financial Times); Nvidia denies the claims

1. The New York Times reports that China's Ministry of State Security (MSS) recruited Megaspeed executive Alice Huang to spy on Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.Reported · The Verge, citing The New York Times
2. According to the NYT, the MSS enlisted her to glean information about American AI chips and 'potentially influence the company to push for its most advanced chips to be made available to China.'Quote · The Verge, citing The New York Times
3. The NYT describes the relationship between Alice Huang and Jensen Huang, who are not related, as 'close.'Reported · The Verge, citing The New York Times
4. The NYT reported a week earlier that U.S. officials determined Alice Huang was funneling information to Chinese intelligence.Reported · The New York Times (feed summary)
5. The chairs of the House committees on China, foreign affairs and intelligence (John Moolenaar, Brian Mast, Rick Crawford) wrote to Jensen Huang asking him to appear at a joint closed-door briefing on November 18.Fact · Ars Technica
6. 'It is vital that Congress determines the extent to which US national security has been placed at risk,' the lawmakers wrote.Quote · Ars Technica
7. The lawmakers want Huang to discuss the security protocols Nvidia has in place against 'foreign adversary espionage.'Reported · Ars Technica
8. The NYT said Huang had not received a 'defensive briefing,' which the intelligence community usually, but not always, gives potential espionage targets.Reported · Ars Technica, citing The New York Times
9. Megaspeed is a Singapore-based cloud company that has bought billions of dollars of Nvidia's chips.Figure · Ars Technica
10. Nvidia rejected the claims and would not say whether Huang will appear. 'Meetings with customers are part of a CEO's job. Jensen talks with thousands of customer executives every year,' the company said.Quote · Ars Technica
11. Nvidia said its regional cloud customers receive 'zero information relevant to national security' and that it is confident the US government would have told it if it considered someone a threat.Reported · Ars Technica
12. The US has previously scrutinized Megaspeed for potential chip smuggling; no charges followed. Nvidia's own inspections at Megaspeed in Singapore found no evidence of its chips being diverted into China, according to people familiar with the matter.Reported · Ars Technica

Sources

• The VergeChina reportedly recruited AI exec to spy on Jensen Huang
• Ars TechnicaNvidia CEO Jensen Huang summoned by Congress over Chinese espionage concerns
• The New York TimesHouse G.O.P. Leaders Ask Nvidia’s Huang to Speak in Closed-Door Briefing