Alice Huang boasted about Nvidia AI chip access to investors, told them Alibaba would be a client for the project

Alice Huang, the alleged Chinese spy linked to Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, pitched a multimillion-dollar artificial intelligence infrastructure project to investors, claiming she could secure the US company's advanced chips and citing Chinese technology giant Alibaba as a prospective client, according to a Financial Times report.Alice Huang and her business partner Kang Wei sought investment in early 2025 for a Southeast Asian data-centre project estimated to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars, the FT reported, citing two investors who were approached about the proposal.During the pitch, the pair said they had no problem securing Nvidia graphics processing units (GPUs), a key component used to develop and operate artificial intelligence systems. They also cited Alibaba as a client for the proposed project, according to an investor familiar with the discussions.The development adds another dimension to the scrutiny surrounding Alice Huang, a former executive at Singapore-based cloud computing company Megaspeed, following allegations that she was recruited by Chinese intelligence to establish a relationship with Jensen Huang and potentially influence his position on US restrictions on advanced chip exports to China.The allegations have not been independently established. Beijing has rejected the espionage claims, while Megaspeed has denied wrongdoing related to chip smuggling.Questions over Nvidia chips and China linksThe proposed data-centre project also raises questions about how advanced Nvidia chips could be made available to Chinese businesses through infrastructure located outside mainland China.US export controls restrict Chinese companies from owning certain advanced AI chips, although Chinese businesses can lease computing capacity from data centres operating overseas, subject to applicable restrictions.The FT report said Alice Huang and Kang Wei presented access to Nvidia GPUs as a central part of their investment proposal. Their reference to Alibaba also drew attention to the Chinese technology company's reported business relationship with Megaspeed.Documents reviewed by the FT investigation showed that Alibaba had lent money to Megaspeed through subsidiaries in 2024. People familiar with the company described Alibaba as Megaspeed's anchor customer and largest client.Jensen Huang faces growing scrutinyThe latest revelations come as Nvidia faces questions over its chief executive's reported relationship with Alice Huang and whether the company was exposed to a potential foreign intelligence operation.US intelligence officials reportedly believe Alice Huang was connected to a Chinese espionage effort targeting Jensen Huang. The alleged objective was to gather information about the Nvidia chief and influence his efforts to persuade Washington to ease restrictions on advanced AI chip exports to China.Jensen Huang has acknowledged having an extramarital affair and apologized to his wife and family. Nvidia's independent directors have launched an investigation into whether he was targeted in a foreign intelligence operation.The company has said it has no reason to believe that its national security interests or confidential information were compromised. The allegations have nevertheless brought renewed attention to Nvidia's business dealings in China and the security implications of its global AI chip supply chain.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.