Insiders predict Jensen Huang will ‘get a second act’ as resurfaced footage shows him kissing suspected Chinese spy

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Newly resurfaced footage shows former Nvidia Chief Executive Jensen Huang in an embrace with Alice Huang, a former data center executive suspected of being a Chinese spy, as Silicon Valley executives predict the fallen tech billionaire is ready to make a comeback.

The images, taken by Reuters after Jensen Huang gives a speech at a conference in Taipei, Taiwan, in June 2024, shows the couple kissing, the tech mogul’s hand on her waist. The couple reportedly started dating in December 2023.

Despite his abrupt departure from the chipmaker this week, many tech executives and investors expect the 63-year-old entrepreneur to return to a top leadership role in the industry.

“It is inevitable, with all the value he has created and his commonly accepted role as godfather of AI, that he will have a second act,” said an executive at a major California startup anonymously. Policy. “And that a number of hyperscalers and startups are stumbling to reach out and bring him on board, regardless of the transgressions.”

Tech insiders said Policy they expected Jensen Huang to return to an important leadership position, while others said they would not be surprised if he did. Many have suggested that it would be easier for Jensen Huang – whose net worth is estimated at $145 billion – to launch a new company rather than join an established public company.

“This kind of influence doesn’t disappear overnight,” said Joseph Hoefer, head of AI at lobbying firm Monument Advocacy. Policy. “I wouldn’t confuse the loss of one’s position with the loss of one’s ability to shape what happens later.”

Tech figures including Anduril founder Palmer Luckey and Perplexity AI CEO Aravind Srinivas have publicly defended Huang, while SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has discussed the possibility of hiring him.

However, Scott Gerber, partner at technology strategy consultancy Vrge, said: Policy that the espionage allegations “would make it much more difficult for any public company to recruit him into a leadership role.”

The national security discourse surrounding Alice Huang, an unrelated former top executive at Singapore-based data center company Megaspeed, has been suppressed by some lawmakers and investors.

Rep. Jim Himes, a Connecticut Democrat expected to become the new chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said Policy that, based on briefings from U.S. intelligence officials, he did not know whether she was knowingly providing information to China.

David Sacks, a venture capitalist and former AI advisor to President Donald Trump, also questioned the allegations about X, writing that “the spy narrative is already falling apart.”

Jensen Huang resigned Thursday after Nvidia’s board launched an internal investigation into his personal dealings, appointing CFO Colette Kress as interim CEO. The controversy wiped $550 billion off Nvidia’s market valuation.

Earlier in the week, Jensen Huang, married to Lori Huang for more than 40 years, sent an email to staff admitting to an affair with Alice Huang, apologizing to her family and pledging to cooperate with the company’s investigation.

The admission followed a Financial Times report that U.S. intelligence officials believed he was involved with a suspected Chinese spy.

Additional reports quickly followed. Wednesday, The New York Times reported a second relationship involving Nvidia VP of Healthcare Kimberly Powell, citing video footage of the two being affectionate. Hours after his resignation, reports emerged of a third alleged relationship with another unidentified Nvidia employee.

In the final hours before his departure, Jensen Huang appeared emotionally exhausted and repeatedly used phrases such as “whatever” and “I don’t care,” insiders said. Bloomberg. According to the outlet, Jensen Huang said he was not concerned about his own fate and was primarily focused on his wife and avoiding “ruining the lives” of women related to him.

He agreed to testify at an upcoming House hearing regarding the scandal.

“Its position in the industry could be recovered over time,” said Philip Reiner, CEO of the Institute for Security and Technology and former senior director of the National Security Council. Policy. “Rebuilding Washington’s credibility on China policy is extremely difficult.”