Jensen Huang reportedly described himself as a “piece of sh–” after losing his position as Nvidia CEO, bringing an extraordinary end to his 33-year leadership of the AI chipmaker. According to Bloomberg’s November 13 report, Huang appeared exhausted and defeated during his final days as chief executive, following weeks of controversy over extramarital affairs and allegations involving a woman suspected of having ties to Chinese intelligence.
People familiar with the situation told Bloomberg that Huang’s normally commanding personality had changed dramatically. The executive, known for closely monitoring everything from chip development to employee compensation, reportedly began responding with phrases such as “whatever” and “I don’t care.”
How Jensen Huang’s Final Hours at Nvidia Unfolded
The controversy intensified in late October when reports linked Huang to Alice Huang, a businesswoman suspected by US intelligence officials of having connections to Chinese intelligence. The allegations remain unproven, and Nvidia previously said it had no reason to believe its confidential information had been compromised.
Don’t miss the best of The Mac Observer
Set us as a preferred source and our Apple reporting ranks higher in your Google Search results and Discover feed — one tap, no account changes.
On November 8, Huang apologized to Nvidia employees and his family after admitting to an extramarital relationship. Nvidia’s board subsequently launched an independent investigation.
However, another report on November 11 alleged that Huang had also been involved with Kimberly Powell, Nvidia’s vice president of healthcare. The revelations increased pressure on the board, which held a late-night meeting to decide his future.
Bloomberg reported that Huang had become increasingly disengaged from his responsibilities. His responses to executives reportedly slowed, a significant change for someone who personally supervised approximately 60 direct reports.
Nvidia Faces an Uncertain Future Without Huang
On November 12, Nvidia confirmed Huang’s immediate resignation as CEO, president, and board member. The company appointed Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress as interim CEO while beginning its search for a permanent successor.
Huang’s departure creates a major leadership challenge for Nvidia, whose GPUs, CUDA software ecosystem, and AI accelerators underpin much of the global artificial intelligence industry.
The company is also preparing to report quarterly earnings on November 17, placing additional pressure on its new leadership.
Meanwhile, Huang is expected to face questions from US lawmakers about whether his personal relationships created risks involving Nvidia’s advanced semiconductor technology and sensitive information.
For now, the board must find someone capable of replacing a founder who spent more than three decades shaping Nvidia’s technology, business strategy, and influence across the global AI industry.
Discussion