Investigation claims business network linked to Alice Huang helped secure restricted AI processors despite tightening U.S. export controls.
A fresh investigation has cast a spotlight on the movement of advanced artificial intelligence chips into China, raising questions about global export controls and the role of influential business relationships in the fast-growing AI industry.
According to the report, Alice Huang, a Singapore-based technology executive, is at the centre of a vast corporate network that allegedly helped Chinese customers acquire Nvidia’s most advanced AI processors. The findings suggest that companies linked to Huang secured access to restricted hardware worth billions of dollars, despite U.S. authorities’ increasing efforts to limit China’s access to cutting-edge semiconductor technology.
Investigators claim that since 2023, organisations linked to Huang have played a significant role in securing Nvidia’s H100 and H200 chips, processors widely regarded as critical for training and running advanced artificial intelligence systems. The report estimates that approximately 240,000 restricted AI chips ultimately reached China through a web of companies operating across multiple jurisdictions.
A key entity in the network is said to be Shanghai Century Litong, a Chinese company founded in mid-2023. Within a few months of its founding, the firm reportedly became one of Nvidia’s preferred cloud partners, granting it priority access to highly sought-after AI hardware. This status allegedly enabled the company to acquire substantial quantities of processors at a time when demand was soaring worldwide.
Trade data reviewed by journalists also revealed shipments of Nvidia equipment to Indonesia via a subsidiary of Megaspeed International, a cloud-computing provider controlled by Alice Huang. While these transactions do not automatically indicate violations of export regulations, they have attracted scrutiny due to concerns about the hardware’s ultimate destination.
The report further alleges that Huang’s close association with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang enhanced her influence across the technology supply chain. Industry sources claim she frequently cited her access to senior Nvidia leadership when dealing with suppliers and customers, enabling her to navigate shortages and secure products that many competitors struggled to obtain.
Before entering the AI infrastructure sector, Alice Huang built a career in finance, investment management, and banking. Public records indicate she held senior roles at several Chinese financial institutions before becoming Megaspeed’s controlling shareholder in 2023.
As governments worldwide tighten restrictions on advanced semiconductor exports, the controversy highlights the growing geopolitical importance of AI. Beyond the personal and business relationships involved, the case underscores the growing challenge of monitoring global supply chains in an era when access to powerful computing hardware has become a strategic priority for nations and companies alike.
