'I thought it was fake news': Jensen Huang spy scandal shocks his home island of Taiwan

Taiwan has been left in shock after allegations emerged that the extramarital partner of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang — the "semiconductor rock star" credited with driving the global AI boom — may be a Chinese spy. Reactions on the island, where Huang enjoys celebrity-level fame, have ranged from disbelief to sympathy.

According to Reuters, Taiwanese citizens have been unable to conceal their surprise at the news surrounding Huang's affair and the espionage allegations. Huang has inspired the coined term "Jensanity" to describe the crowds of devoted fans and journalists that follow him on every visit to the island.

Xiao Guiyu, 68, who runs a fruit stall at Taipei's Siping Market that Huang regularly patronizes, said the news was hard to accept. "At first I thought it was a lie or fake news," Xiao said. "We think he is a great boss who takes very good care of people." Xiao added: "How could something like this happen?"

A barber named Ray Wang, 57, who has cut Huang's hair near the hotel where the CEO typically stays, also expressed concern. Wang said he has known Huang since 2017. "I pray for Jensen Huang every day," Wang said. "I hope he gets through this difficult time." Wang added that he would like to send a letter of support but felt the timing was not right.

Some voices came to Huang's defense. Liu Yili, 49, who was waiting in line at one of Huang's regular restaurants, said that while Huang was right to acknowledge the affair, one mistake should not define a person. "You cannot judge someone based on just one thing," Liu said.

Huang was born in Tainan, in southern Taiwan, and emigrated to the United States as a child before building Nvidia into a global chipmaker. His success as a Taiwanese immigrant who came to lead the world's AI industry has made him a symbol of national pride on the island.

Nvidia is also the largest customer of TSMC, Taiwan's flagship company and the world's largest foundry. On each of his visits to Taiwan, Huang has praised the contributions of TSMC and other local technology companies to the AI revolution, maintaining close ties with the island's tech sector.

Huang's reputation has taken a blow after allegations surfaced that Alice Huang, his reported affair partner, has links to Chinese intelligence. The widely circulated photographs showing the two together are also believed to have been taken in Taiwan. The espionage allegations against Alice Huang remain unconfirmed, and the Chinese government has denied them.