Chinese social media mourns Jensen Huang’s departure from Nvidia

Chinese social media users expressed disappointment on Thursday over Jensen Huang's resignation as chief executive of US chipmaker Nvidia, with some describing the departure of the company's longtime leader as the loss of its "soul".

Chinese social media users expressed disappointment on Thursday over Jensen Huang’s resignation as chief executive of US chipmaker Nvidia, with some describing the departure of the company’s longtime leader as the loss of its “soul”.

Huang’s resignation was announced by Nvidia on Thursday, November 12. Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress was appointed interim chief executive, while board member Harvey C. Jones became the company’s first chairman of the board.

Huang, who holds Taiwanese and US citizenship, has maintained a strong following in China, where he is known for speaking Mandarin, making regular visits and attending the annual Computex technology exhibition in Taiwan.

His resignation became the top technology topic on China’s Weibo platform on Thursday, attracting hundreds of thousands of comments, according to Business Insider.

“With his departure, Nvidia may still be incredibly successful, but it will lack its soul,” a user posting from the southwestern city of Chongqing wrote. Another user in Guangdong province described Huang as an “irreplaceable leader”.

Some users also voiced concern that the allegations surrounding Huang could fuel suspicion towards Chinese Americans. Hu Xijin, former editor-in-chief of China’s state-run Global Times newspaper, described the resignation as a “national security coup” and said it could have far-reaching implications for Chinese Americans.

The controversy follows reports of Huang’s extramarital relationships, including one with Alice Huang, a Chinese businesswoman based in Singapore whom US officials reportedly suspected of working for Chinese intelligence. The New York Times reported that she was suspected of passing sensitive Nvidia information to Beijing.

China’s foreign ministry has rejected the espionage allegations, calling them groundless. Nvidia’s board has launched an independent investigation into reports that Huang was targeted by a foreign intelligence effort. The company has said it has no reason to believe that its trade secrets or national security information were compromised.

The fallout could also create opportunities for Asian chipmakers and technology companies seeking alternatives to Nvidia hardware. The company’s shares have fallen more than eight percent over the past week, according to Business Insider.

Brad Gastwirth, global head of research at Circular Technology, told Business Insider the controversy could be a setback for the United States as China invests heavily in its own artificial intelligence industry.

Paul Triolo, a partner at strategic advisory firm DGA-Albright Stonebridge Group, said China’s AI accelerator companies and Taiwan’s custom-chip designers were among the Asian businesses most likely to benefit. South Korean companies could also gain, but more selectively, he said.

Triolo said the immediate gains could come from increased investor interest and customers becoming more willing to consider alternatives to Nvidia hardware.

Nvidia is due to announce its third-quarter fiscal 2027 results on November 17, the company said.