Former NVIDIA boss Jensen Huang still expected to testify to Congress

Developing story first seen 2 hours ago

Engadget · 2 hours ago

New coverage adds that NVIDIA’s board met after reports of a second alleged affair involving Jensen Huang, who has left his roles as the company’s chief executive and president with immediate effect. He is still expected to testify before Congress by Thanksgiving, after agreeing to appear when lawmakers threatened to subpoena him; the hearing will address questions including US export controls.

The hearing is expected to be held behind closed doors, with the House Foreign Affairs, Intelligence and China-focused committees taking part. Chairman Brian Mast expects it to be filmed and transcribed, while NVIDIA finance chief Colette Kress serves as interim CEO as the company seeks a successor. US and Singaporean investigations into alleged chip-smuggling links to Megaspeed International continue; Singapore said there was insufficient evidence to establish that Alice Huang had committed offences related to possible inaccurate declarations.

Sources: 3
Outlets: 3
Left · Centre · Right: 1 · 0 · 1

In short

Jensen Huang is expected to testify to Congress by Thanksgiving.
NVIDIA’s board met after reports of a second alleged affair.
Colette Kress is interim CEO as investigations continue.

How this story developed

11 minutes ago Coverage reiterated Huang’s planned congressional testimony and immediate departure, while US and Singaporean investigations into alleged chip-smuggling links to Megaspeed International continued.
16 minutes ago New reports of a second alleged affair preceded Huang’s immediate departure as NVIDIA chief executive and president, while finance chief Colette Kress became interim CEO.
40 minutes ago Former NVIDIA chief executive Jensen Huang agreed to testify before Congress by Thanksgiving after lawmakers threatened a subpoena, with a closed-door hearing planned on export controls and China-related issues.

12 Nov, 18:59The Guardian Jensen Huang was a busted flush at Nvidia – he had to go | Nils Pratley
12 Nov, 19:27Engadget Former NVIDIA boss Jensen Huang still expected to testify to Congress
12 Nov, 19:27New York Post Ousted Nvidia boss agrees to testify before Congress — as GOP presses Lutnick for answers in Chinese spy scandal

Full account

Jensen Huang is due to appear before US lawmakers before Thanksgiving, according to House Foreign Affairs Committee chair Brian Mast. The hearing is expected to involve members of the House intelligence and China-focused committees as well as Foreign Affairs. Mast said Huang had agreed to attend after lawmakers threatened a subpoena. The session is expected to be held behind closed doors, though Mast said it would be recorded and transcribed.

The planned testimony comes as NVIDIA faces scrutiny over exports of advanced chips to China and the effectiveness of US restrictions. Mast said he and Huang had sharply disagreed over export controls, while describing NVIDIA as important to the United States. The broader congressional inquiry is also concerned with the government’s handling of technology sales and the country’s position in the race to develop artificial intelligence.

The accounts place the hearing amid upheaval at the company. They report that Huang acknowledged an affair with Alice Huang, who is not related to him and whom US officials reportedly regard as a Chinese spy. She led Singapore-based Megaspeed International, a company under investigation over alleged efforts to move US-made chips to China. The reports also describe a separate alleged relationship between Huang and NVIDIA executive Kimberly Powell. NVIDIA’s board considered Huang’s position, and its chief financial officer, Colette Kress, is serving as interim chief executive while the company looks for a permanent successor.

Investigations into the alleged chip shipments are continuing. The US Department of Justice is reportedly examining Megaspeed and possible links to attempts to route products to China. Singapore’s authorities said Alice Huang had been barred from returning to the country after police found she had knowingly provided inaccurate information about her role at Megaspeed. They said there was not enough evidence to establish that she had committed offences relating to the declarations under investigation; inquiries into the company and six other people remain open.

Where outlets differ

From the full account, which is AI-written from the sources:

The first report centres on the congressional hearing, its timing, participants and the investigations in the United States and Singapore. The second focuses on the business and political case for Huang’s departure, arguing that the circumstances surrounding the reported relationships made him a liability for NVIDIA. It also discusses investor reaction and the wider scrutiny of US chip-export policy. The second report does not provide the hearing logistics or Singapore authorities’ account included in the first. The first says Huang agreed to testify before NVIDIA announced his resignation; the supplied second report discusses his resignation but does not give that sequence or the hearing date. The source material does not include outlet names or URLs, so these cannot be identified here.