Jensen Huang is expected to testify before the US Congress within the next two weeks after stepping down as chief executive of Nvidia on Thursday, plunging the chipmaker into crisis and sending shockwaves across the global AI industry. The resignation followed revelations of extramarital affairs, including one involving a woman suspected by US authorities of working for the Chinese government. According to The Guardian, the scandal has reignited bipartisan calls in Washington for stricter controls on advanced chip exports to China.
House foreign affairs committee chair Brian Mast, a Florida Republican, told reporters on Thursday that congressional staff had spoken to Huang on Wednesday night about scheduling his testimony. Mast and two other leading House Republicans had previously requested that Huang brief them behind closed doors about his relationship with Alice Huang, the woman at the centre of the espionage allegations.
Huang's departure marks a dramatic reversal for one of the most prominent figures of the artificial intelligence boom. He will be replaced on an interim basis by Nvidia's chief financial officer, Colette Kress, until a permanent successor is appointed. Nvidia's board of directors confirmed the resignation without mentioning the personal conduct revelations, instead praising Huang's "profound" contributions to the company he co-founded.
What triggered Huang's resignation?
The Nvidia CEO stepped down after reports emerged of intimate relationships with multiple people, including Alice Huang, a businesswoman whom US authorities suspect of spying for the Chinese government, and Kimberly Powell, Nvidia's vice-president of health care. On Sunday, Jensen Huang publicly admitted he had been unfaithful to his wife, Lori, without naming those involved.
Huang has denied any knowledge that Alice Huang worked for the Chinese government. The pair were photographed together around the world over several years, dining in restaurants and attending meetings. However, US intelligence officials disagree about whether Alice Huang was recruited by China's Ministry of State Security, with sources indicating that intelligence collected so far does not prove she acted as a spy.
What is the status of the espionage investigation?
US Attorney General Todd Blanche stated on Thursday that the Justice Department has not yet reached a conclusion on whether Alice Huang was a Chinese spy. He confirmed that the FBI is investigating reports of her alleged work for the Chinese government. Beijing has denied that Alice Huang is a spy, and she herself has not spoken publicly about the allegations.
President Donald Trump, when asked whether Huang should have resigned, said the key question remained unresolved.
The big thing is, was the woman a spy? And I don't know if that's been determined yet. But if the woman was a spy, yes. If the woman was not a spy, perhaps it would be different.Trump initially defended Huang as the scandal threatened to overwhelm the company, but quickly pivoted on Thursday to discussing potential successors, posting on social media that Tim Cook, Apple's former chief executive and current executive chair, should replace him.
How has the market reacted?
Nvidia's stock plunged 14 per cent when Wall Street opened following the announcement of Huang's departure, sending ripples through the global economy. The shares recovered somewhat to finish more than 4 per cent lower as investor uncertainty about the company's future leadership eased. The scandal has triggered substantial market losses for the chipmaker, which is valued at approximately $4.5 trillion.
A shareholder has filed a proposed class-action lawsuit against Nvidia and Huang, alleging that investors were misled by the company's statements about the affair. The lawsuit seeks to represent Nvidia investors who purchased shares from October 9, 2025, through November 8, 2026.
Why is Congress focused on chip exports to China?
Nvidia's advanced artificial intelligence chips are widely used to develop cutting-edge AI models, making the company central to the US competition with China to build superior AI systems. The US has sought for years to limit China's access to Nvidia's chips to ensure its own companies maintain technological superiority in the race.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said there is growing consensus in Congress on limiting chip exports to China following the scandal.
The export controls on chips to China has been a big issue around here. I think there's a developing consensus in Congress that is an important position to take.Representatives from both parties have called for tougher restrictions on China's access to advanced AI chips, which could underpin the country's surging AI development.
Congressional Republicans are keen to attach new restrictions on exporting advanced AI chips to China in the annual defence authorisation bill, a must-pass measure that funds the military and typically attracts bipartisan support, according to a Senate aide who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity.
What safeguards did Nvidia have in place?
Nvidia engaged prominent law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz to conduct an independent investigation into Huang's alleged affair. The board said Huang would cooperate with the review and continue leading the company during the investigation. Nvidia stated it had no reason to believe national security or its secrets had been compromised.
The scandal has drawn scrutiny over the company's safeguards against foreign espionage. The FBI reportedly raised concerns to lawmakers about Alice Huang nearly a year before the current controversy became public. Additionally, the Justice and Commerce departments began investigating Megaspeed in 2024 over suspected diversion of restricted Nvidia chips to China, raising questions about export control enforcement.
Who could replace Huang as CEO?
Nvidia's board said it would consider both internal and external candidates for the chief executive role. Tim Cook, Apple's former chief executive and current executive chair, has been mentioned as a potential successor, particularly after Trump's public endorsement. Rene Haas, chief executive of Arm Holdings, a UK-based chipmaker, and Lisa Su, chief executive of chipmaker AMD, have also been discussed as possible candidates.
What happens next?
Huang is expected to testify before Congress within the next fortnight, with the exact date and location to be determined following discussions between congressional staff and the Nvidia executive. The shareholder lawsuit will proceed through the courts, though no hearing date has been specified. The Justice Department's investigation into whether Alice Huang worked for the Chinese government remains ongoing, and Nvidia's independent investigation into the CEO's conduct is underway.
