Nvidia CEO affair with alleged Chinese spy reignites US export control debate

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang admitted Sunday to an affair with Alice Huang, a former Megaspeed executive US intelligence believes worked for Chinese intelligence, prompting Washington hawks to renew calls for tougher China export controls. The scandal has emboldened lawmakers who were frustrated with President Trump's decision to clear Nvidia's H200 AI chips for export to China last year. Three Republican House chairs have requested a closed-door briefing with Huang on November 18, and the FBI is investigating the spying allegations while the Justice Department probes possible chip smuggling. The revelations could revive stalled legislation like the AI Overwatch Act, which would let Congress review AI chip export licenses. Analysts say Nvidia's influence in Washington will likely diminish significantly, though tighter rules risk upsetting the US-China trade truce and provoking Chinese retaliation.