Nvidia’s Jensen Huang Problem: No Successor in Sight

The biggest crisis in the universe of artificial intelligence in recent times has come not from technology but human behaviour. Jensen Huang, founder and chief executive officer of Nvidia, confessed to having an extramarital relationship. By itself, that might have been damaging but not critical. It turns out that the woman in question might have been an agent of the Chinese government. The US government knew and chose to not do much. Even on November 9, in a press conference, US President Donald Trump was defending Huang, 'I asked him that question: "Did you have any idea that she was a spy?" He said, "I had no idea that she was a spy," and I really believe him." Adding that he knew Jensen very well, Trump called him an honourable man. "I know the FBI is looking into it in terms of something else and I think that he'll be in good shape," he said.

Now that everything has made front pages, shares of the company have seen a steep drop. Nvidia's Board is doing an investigation. Any other person in similar circumstances would have had to leave the company, but Huang occupies a special position. He might only have around 3.5 percent of Nvidia's shares but the company has been structured in such a way that all key personnel report to him. There have been no successors groomed. He is close to Trump. And above all Nvidia's GPUs are the lifeline of hyperscaler companies. Demand is much more than supply and Huang is at the centre deciding how the chips must be apportioned. The company is critical to the AI ambitions of the US too. If he survives, it will be because no one knows who can take his place.