The power struggle behind the Jensen Huang scandal - Asia Specific podcast, BBC World Service

It's the salacious scandal sending shockwaves through the most consequential relationship in global politics, so how will an affair involving the head of the world's most important AI chip company with an alleged Chinese spy change US technology policy?

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Jensen Huang has publicly apologised to his family and admitted infidelity, but this is no ordinary personal scandal.

Figures within the US intelligence community have for weeks been leaking allegations to media outlets claiming the head of chipmaker Nvidia had been close to a Singapore-based data centre executive who the US deemed to be a Chinese intelligence asset.

Beijing has rejected the claims and the US President says he believes Huang genuinely didn't know the woman was a Chinese spy.

But analysts believe the leaking of the information in the first place reflects concerns by some in Washington that Huang is too close to the President.

And too influential over decisions about how or if the US should restrict the sale of Nvidia's most powerful AI chips to China.

On this episode, Asia Specific podcast host Mariko Oi speaks to Tim Culpan, technology journalist, researcher and writer based in Taipei.

Read more about on the story here 👉🏽 https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqg7x7dpvym8o

This episode was filmed on November 10, 2026.

00:00 Introduction
01:59 Who is Jensen Huang?
04:04 What is the scandal surrounding Jensen?
05:55 Was his affair an open secret?
06:48 Allegations against Megaspeed and Alice Huang
07:44 Megaspeed's questionable background
09:41 Does Nvidia do due diligence on where their chips are sold?
11:13 Why is this scandal coming out now?
14:43 Is there a succession plan?
16:25 Will these lead to a change in chip export policy?
18:33 Will Donald Trump bring Jensen along his upcoming trip to Asia?

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