The US House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party has publicly challenged Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang over the company’s long-standing campus sharing with Futurewei, a US-based affiliate of blacklisted Chinese tech giant Huawei.
In a social media post and supporting documents, the committee highlighted that Futurewei, which presents itself as an independent American entity, has operated for years within Nvidia’s Santa Clara headquarters, raising significant national security and technology protection concerns.
“China may be ‘nanoseconds behind’ in AI, but for years it was in Nvidia’s backyard,” the committee stated, directly responding to Huang’s recent comments that “China is going to win the AI race” but remains “nanoseconds behind America in AI.”
Security Concerns and Corporate Ties
According to a committee letter sent earlier this year, Futurewei maintains deep operational ties with Huawei despite formal attempts to distance itself from the sanctioned parent company. The lawmakers cited evidence suggesting Futurewei employees have used false identities to infiltrate private industry events, with gathered intelligence allegedly transferred to “product development, strategy teams, and executives in China.”
While not directly accusing Nvidia or Huang of wrongdoing, the committee emphasized the strategic implications of the physical proximity, noting that sensitive technology and intellectual property could be at risk.
Divergent Visions in US-China Tech Policy
The confrontation highlights a fundamental divide in how to approach technology competition with China:
- US Government Stance: Limit China’s access to advanced American hardware, particularly AI chips, over concerns about military and surveillance applications
- Nvidia’s Position: Advocate for global technology access, arguing that widespread adoption of American hardware ensures US leadership in defining global AI infrastructure
Huang has consistently argued that restricting chip sales to China ultimately harms US technological leadership. “It’s vital that America wins by racing ahead and winning developers worldwide,” he recently stated.
Broader Implications
The committee’s scrutiny comes as Nvidia capitalizes on massive AI demand from both the US and Chinese markets, recently becoming the world’s most valuable company by market capitalization. The situation underscores the challenging balance US tech firms must strike between global business opportunities and increasing geopolitical tensions.
Nvidia has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the committee’s latest statements.
