Nvidia's China AI projects worth $3 billion face uncertainty after Huang exit and US export controls

Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang resigned amid a scandal involving a Chinese businesswoman, while a Reuters review found over $3 billion in Chinese AI projects still rely on restricted Nvidia processors, despite US export controls. The review examined 150 procurement notices and contracts, revealing Nvidia technology embedded in local government ventures, universities, and regional computing centers across China. Projects range from coastal hubs to western provinces, exposing operators to potential supply disruptions and redesigns as controls tighten. Washington began restricting advanced AI processors in 2022, with further limits in January. Nvidia claimed effective exclusion from China's market, though IDC data showed it held 34% of Chinese AI-accelerator shipments in early 2026. Huang's exit may weaken Nvidia's lobbying leverage.