Nvidia board faces independence test after CEO's China spy probe

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's affair with a businesswoman suspected of being a Chinese spy has triggered an FBI probe and an internal board investigation, raising existential questions about national security and the chipmaker's leadership. The scandal has cast doubt on Huang's future, with shares falling 4% on Monday. The board, which launched its inquiry Sunday, faces scrutiny over its independence as three directors have served since the 1990s and only two joined since 2021. Experts suggest the investigation should use outside legal advisers and exclude long-serving directors to avoid shareholder challenges. China dismissed the spying claim as groundless. Huang, 63, owns 3.6% of Nvidia and has no obvious successor, while maintaining close ties to President Trump, who said he expects Huang to "be in good shape." The case is complicated by Washington's 2022 export restrictions on AI chips to China and a deal allowing some shipments with government revenue sharing.