The disclosure came Sunday in a companywide memo in which Huang apologized to employees and his family. "I owe my family and all of you an apology," Huang wrote. "I was unfaithful to my wife. My actions hurt her and our children. There is no excuse for what I did. I am deeply sorry."

The memo, which Nvidia posted publicly, did not name the woman or directly address the espionage allegations. But according to reporting by The New York Times, Huang told the board that the relationship was with Alice Huang (no relation), an executive whom U.S. intelligence officials have concluded was working for the Chinese government.

In the memo, Huang said he supports the board's investigation. The board said its inquiry will examine the relationship and whether any company secrets or national security interests were compromised.

The episode raises significant questions for Nvidia, one of the world's most valuable technology companies and a critical supplier of the advanced semiconductors that underpin artificial intelligence systems. The company's chips are central to the global AI buildout and are subject to strict U.S. export controls, making the firm a high-value target for foreign intelligence services.

Huang, who co-founded Nvidia in 1993, has become one of Silicon Valley's most prominent executives as demand for the company's graphics processing units has surged. The board's decision to launch an independent probe signals the seriousness with which directors are treating the possibility that the CEO was targeted in a foreign influence or espionage operation.

The company did not provide further details about the scope of the investigation or who would lead it. The memo and the board's statement were released publicly, an unusual step for a company responding to a sensitive personal and security matter.

The disclosure also comes amid heightened scrutiny of Chinese intelligence activities targeting U.S. technology firms and their executives. Federal officials have repeatedly warned that foreign adversaries seek to cultivate relationships with industry leaders to obtain trade secrets and insight into critical technologies.

For Nvidia employees and investors, the investigation adds a layer of uncertainty to a company already navigating export restrictions and intense geopolitical competition over AI. The board's findings could have implications not only for Huang's leadership but for how the company safeguards its intellectual property and manages security risks tied to its top executives.

Huang said he would cooperate fully with the inquiry. The board has not set a timeline for completing its review.