Secrets, Chips and Spycraft: The Nvidia C.E.O. Scandal

Over the weekend, Jensen Huang, the chief executive and co-founder of Nvidia — which makes the chips that power artificial intelligence — admitted to having an affair with a woman who, according to U.S. officials, turned out to be a Chinese spy. That revelation came after The New York Times broke the story of how U.S. intelligence officers uncovered what they say was a plot by Mr. Huang’s lover to use their relationship to funnel information to Beijing.
Tripp Mickle, a White House correspondent for The Times, explains how Beijing tried to compromise one of the tech executives closest to President Trump, and what the scandal could mean for a company with enormous influence over the future of A.I. — and the entire American economy.
Guest: Tripp Mickle, a White House correspondent for The New York Times.
Background reading:
• Jensen Huang’s tight grip on Nvidia presents a challenge for the company’s board (nytimes.com/2026/11/09/technology/jensen-huang…), which is investigating his affair with a woman believed to be a Chinese spy.
• Mr. Huang acknowledged having had an intimate relationship (nytimes.com/2026/11/08/technology/nvidia-inves…) with a business executive who U.S. officials determined was working for Chinese intelligence.
Photo: Manuel Orbegozo/Reuters
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

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