Nvidia founder and chief executive Jensen Huang apologised on Sunday for being "unfaithful" to his wife, hours after the chipmaker's board opened an independent investigation into whether he was the target of a "foreign intelligence effort".

The admission, delivered in a personal note to Nvidia staff, follows a New York Times report last month stating that US officials believe the woman involved in the affair was recruited as a spy by the Chinese government.

What did Huang tell his staff?

The note, signed simply "Jensen", opened with an apology to his family and employees. "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," Huang wrote.

He said his family deserved his honesty and loyalty, and that instead he had "let them down and damaged the life we built together". He wrote: "I take full responsibility for what I did and the hurt I caused, and I accept the criticism that comes with it."

Addressing his wife and children directly, Huang added: "I love you. I know an apology cannot undo what I have done. I hope our family will heal and that, over time, I can earn back your trust."

He also asked for privacy on their behalf, stating plainly: "My family bears no responsibility for my choices. I do. Please give them privacy."

What does the investigation cover?

The note confirmed that Nvidia's board of directors has initiated an independent investigation into the national security concerns raised in press reports. Huang wrote that he supports the probe and will cooperate fully.

"I love our country and our company. I am committed to protecting NVIDIA and supporting America's national security. I am proud and grateful to be an American," the note said.

Nvidia said on Sunday that it is investigating whether its chief executive was the target of a "foreign intelligence effort". The company disclosed the probe earlier in the day, before Huang's note to staff circulated.

The strategic stakes for Nvidia are considerable. An independent investigation (a review conducted by parties outside management) places the board, rather than Huang himself, in charge of establishing the facts around the alleged intelligence contact.

Who is the woman at the centre of the reports?

The New York Times reported last month that US officials believe Alice Huang, a former executive at a data center company in Singapore, was a Chinese intelligence asset passing information to Beijing. The newspaper reported that surveillance of Alice Huang showed she had developed a relationship with the Nvidia founder.

According to the Times' reporting, the assessment rests on US intelligence findings that she was recruited as a spy by the Chinese government. The nature of any information potentially passed to Beijing has not been disclosed in the reports.

What did Huang say to shareholders and partners?

Huang addressed the widest constituency of all — "our board, partners, and shareholders around the world" — with an admission of professional shortcoming. "You deserve better from me," he wrote.

"Leading NVIDIA is the privilege of my life. My responsibility is to serve you and be worthy of your trust. I have fallen short of that responsibility," the note continued. "I am fully committed to NVIDIA and will work to earn back your confidence."

The phrasing signals that Huang intends to remain at the helm of the company he co-founded, while submitting himself to the board-led review. He paired the personal apology with an explicit commitment to cooperate with the investigation and to support US national security interests.

What happens next?

The timeline of events on Sunday moved quickly. Nvidia first announced the independent investigation into whether its chief executive was the target of a foreign intelligence effort. Huang's note to staff then followed, combining the personal admission with confirmation of the board's probe.

The outcome now rests with the independent investigation, which will examine the circumstances of the relationship reported by the New York Times and any implications for the company. No findings have been released, and no date for the probe's conclusion has been announced.

For Nvidia, the investigation arrives as the company occupies a central position in American semiconductor and artificial intelligence infrastructure. The board's decision to launch an independent review, rather than manage the matter internally, reflects the gravity with which it is treating the national security dimension of the reports.