US probes Nvidia executive's aide over alleged AI chip transfers to China

U.S. intelligence agencies are investigating Alice Huang, also known as Huang Le, a senior executive at Singapore data-centre firm Megaspeed, for suspected participation in moving advanced Nvidia AI chips to China and for collecting commercial information on behalf of Beijing. The probe follows concerns that Megaspeed and its sister company in Malaysia purchased nearly $4.8 billion of Nvidia equipment between June 2024 and February 2026, which officials fear may have been diverted to Chinese customers despite U.S. export restrictions.

Investigators say Huang’s role placed her in contact with Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang. Surveillance records reportedly captured communications that linked the two, and photographs show them together in Taipei after a technology trade show in June 2024 and again in May 2025. U.S. officials are assessing whether those interactions could have provided China with insight into Nvidia’s business plans or U.S. policy on chip exports.

Nvidia spokesperson John Rizzo told The New York Times that meetings between the CEO and customers are routine and that no sensitive trade secrets were shared with Megaspeed. "Jensen's interactions with Ms. Huang are not unusual or unexpected. Meetings with customers are part of a CEO's job; Jensen talks with thousands of customer executives every year," Rizzo said. Megaspeed said it has engaged external legal counsel for an internal review and is cooperating with U.S. authorities.

The investigation, originally handled by the Commerce Department, was transferred to the Justice Department this year. Singaporean authorities questioned Huang in 2025 before releasing her. She remains under U.S. surveillance as the case highlights challenges Washington faces in enforcing export controls on advanced AI technology through third-country intermediaries.