Republican lawmakers in the US House of Representatives have asked NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang to brief Congress over allegations concerning his reported relationship with a Chinese businesswoman suspected of passing information to Beijing.
The request follows a report by The New York Times that US authorities were investigating Alice Huang, a former executive of Singapore-based company Megaspeed, which purchases AI chips from NVIDIA.
Authorities have scrutinized the company over suspicions that it helped Beijing gain access to advanced AI chips barred from being shipped to China.
In a letter dated November 4, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast, China Select Committee Chairman John Moolenaar and Intelligence Committee Chairman Eric Crawford asked Jensen Huang to attend a closed-door briefing on November 18.
The lawmakers want the NVIDIA chief to address the New York Times report and explain the company’s ‘security protocols against foreign adversary espionage.’
The report has raised ‘significant national security concerns regarding (China’s) access to sensitive U.S. technology and information,’ the lawmakers wrote in their letter.
“It is vital that Congress determines the extent to which U.S. national security has been placed at risk,” they added.
The request puts NVIDIA’s dealings with customers under increased congressional scrutiny, particularly as Washington continues to restrict China’s access to advanced semiconductor technology.
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NVIDIA did not directly comment on the letter but defended its CEO’s interactions with business executives.
The company said Jensen Huang speaks with ‘thousands of customer executives every year.’ It also emphasized that cloud customers in Asia receive ordinary business information and do not have access to sensitive NVIDIA trade secrets or information connected to US national security.
“We often receive updates from the U.S. government regarding parties and entities of concern and always act accordingly,” NVIDIA said.
The company did not provide further details about the allegations or the proposed congressional briefing.
The November 18 meeting, if held as requested, will allow lawmakers to question Huang about his reported interactions with Alice Huang and the safeguards NVIDIA has in place to prevent foreign adversaries from accessing sensitive technology and information.
The developments come amid heightened US scrutiny of semiconductor exports to China, with advanced AI chips remaining a key concern for American national security officials.