U.S. reportedly tracked a Chinese spy plot near Nvidia's CEO

NYT: U.S. intelligence reportedly surveilled a Megaspeed exec over suspected China ties.

According to the New York Times, as reported by TechCrunch, CNBC and Tom's Hardware, U.S. intelligence agencies surveilled Alice Huang (also given as Huang Le), a top executive at Singapore-based AI cloud firm Megaspeed, for about a year. Anonymous sources say the concern was that she could be a Chinese intelligence asset.

The Times, citing people briefed, says agencies worried she was helping the Chinese government gain information from Nvidia and CEO Jensen Huang, and that he had access to President Trump. Per the Times and TechCrunch, she was photographed with Jensen Huang, alongside other people, at business dinners in the Singapore region. President Trump was reportedly briefed and took no action. Per the Times' sources, Jensen Huang has not received a defensive briefing, and officials do not believe he is aware of her alleged activities.

Separately, in 2025 the Times reported the Commerce Department had investigated Megaspeed over concerns it was helping Chinese companies sidestep AI chip export rules by reselling restricted chips. An Nvidia spokesperson told CNBC the diversion allegations against this regional cloud were 'thoroughly investigated and debunked last year.' Nvidia also says Jensen Huang's interactions with Ms. Huang are 'not unusual or unexpected.' The Chinese embassy in Washington called the allegations 'groundless smears and slanders'. Tom's Hardware notes it remains unclear what led agencies to investigate her. No wrongdoing has been established.

What to watch: whether any official, on-record confirmation follows the anonymous sourcing.

“The diversion allegations against this regional cloud were thoroughly investigated and debunked last year.”Nvidia spokesperson, on the 2025 chip-export probe

The facts we checked

According to the New York Times, as reported by TechCrunch, CNBC and Tom's Hardware. All claims about Alice Huang are anonymous-source allegations; Nvidia and the Chinese embassy deny them. No wrongdoing has been established.

1. U.S. intelligence agencies surveilled Alice Huang (also given as Huang Le), a top executive at Singapore-based AI cloud firm Megaspeed, over concern she could be a Chinese intelligence asset, according to anonymous sources cited by the New York Times.Reported · TechCrunch
2. The Times, citing people briefed on the surveillance, says intelligence agencies worried she was helping the Chinese government gain information from Nvidia and Jensen Huang, and worried that Huang had access to President Trump.Alleged · CNBC
3. U.S. intelligence had been surveilling Alice Huang for about a year to learn about her ties to China, the Times reports.Reported · TechCrunch
4. Alice Huang was photographed with Jensen Huang alongside other people at business dinners in the Singapore region.Reported · TechCrunch
5. President Trump was briefed on the matter and took no action, according to the NYT's reporting.Reported · The New York Times (feed summary), Tom's Hardware
6. Per the Times' sources, Jensen Huang has not received a defensive briefing, and U.S. officials do not believe he is aware of Ms. Huang's alleged intelligence activities.Reported · Tom's Hardware
7. In 2025 the Times reported the Commerce Department had investigated Megaspeed over concerns it was helping Chinese companies sidestep AI chip export rules by reselling restricted chips.Reported · TechCrunch
8. Nvidia says: 'The diversion allegations against this regional cloud were thoroughly investigated and debunked last year.'Quote · CNBC (Nvidia spokesperson)
9. Nvidia says: 'Jensen's interactions with Ms. Huang are not unusual or unexpected. Meetings with customers are part of a C.E.O.'s job; Jensen talks with thousands of customer executives every year.'Quote · TechCrunch (Nvidia spokesperson)
10. Nvidia says: 'Our regional cloud customers receive ordinary business information—not sensitive NVIDIA trade secrets—and zero information relevant to national security.'Quote · TechCrunch (Nvidia spokesperson)
11. Nvidia says: 'We're confident that if the U.S. government believes that any person is a threat to American industry, it would let us know.'Quote · CNBC (Nvidia spokesperson)
12. The Chinese embassy in Washington denied the allegations, calling them 'groundless smears and slanders'.Quote · Tom's Hardware
13. Tom's Hardware notes it remains unclear what led U.S. intelligence agencies to investigate Ms. Huang.Reported · Tom's Hardware

Sources

• TechCrunchU.S. investigated Chinese spy plot aimed at Nvidia CEO
• CNBCNvidia responds to report Jensen Huang was target of Chinese asset, says diversion allegations were 'investigated and debunked'
• Tom's HardwareNvidia CEO Jensen Huang may have been the target of a spy plot through 'Chinese intelligence asset,' report claims
• The New York TimesNvidia Chief, Jensen Huang, Is Seen as Target of Chinese Spy Plot