The story and the exit
Jensen Huang has stepped down from leading Nvidia, the artificial intelligence chip company he helped found and take to the top of the industry. According to BBC technology correspondent Zoe Kleinman's account, the decision came after allegations emerged of a relationship with a woman suspected of being a Chinese spy and, later, rumors of a second relationship with a colleague. The board of directors concluded that the executive's conduct had crossed acceptable limits.
The news had an immediate impact on the markets: the BBC article reports that the company's shares plunged. Huang, the source writes, was overwhelmed by his own personal choices after building Nvidia with determination and leading it through difficult times. He was so closely identified with the company that, according to the report, as many as 200 people reported directly to him.
Who takes control
In the interim, leadership passes to Colette Kress, a familiar face inside the company who has been there for 13 years. The BBC describes her as a senior executive, a billionaire in her own right, who appears regularly on earnings conference calls. She is not an engineer, however, and Nvidia's products are highly technical: she will have to convince investors that innovation can continue at the same pace and that key talent will not leave the company along with Huang.
Nvidia's strength is crucial for the entire AI industry, because its chips power the most powerful models. Any instability at the company would have repercussions well beyond its borders. The source also reports that Elon Musk has already said it would be an honor to work with Huang at SpaceX, a sign that, despite the allegations, he will not lack offers.
What remains to be established
The investigation into the relationship with the woman accused of being a Chinese spy is expected to continue, and its outcome could determine Huang's next moves. It should be borne in mind that, even if no betrayal of the company or the country is established, according to the source Huang nevertheless betrayed his wife Lori, to whom he has been married for 41 years. The BBC also stresses that some of the news circulating on social media is the product of AI-generated memes and that some details of the story, such as the scope of the allegations and the legal consequences, remain to be verified.
