Nvidia's board will investigate CEO Jensen Huang over alleged spy link

Nvidia's board said Sunday it will carry out an independent investigation of CEO Jensen Huang. The move follows reports that connect Huang to an alleged Chinese spy. CNBC is calling this breaking news, so the details may change as the story develops.

What we know

The board announced the investigation on Sunday. Independent means the review is meant to be run separately from the person at the center of it. The trigger was reporting about a possible link between Huang and someone alleged to be a Chinese spy. The material available so far gives no more than that.

Why Nvidia matters

Nvidia makes the chips that power much of today's artificial intelligence, or AI. Those chips run many of the tools people and companies now use for writing, search, images and customer service. Huang is the company's chief executive, so questions about him reach well beyond one boardroom.

Who it could affect

Leadership turmoil at a company this central could touch tech prices, investments and the companies you rely on. That is a possibility, not a forecast. Nothing in the reports says any product, price or service has changed.

What is not known yet

• Who the alleged spy is and what the connection to Huang actually was.
• Who will lead the investigation and how long it will take.
• Whether Huang will step back from any duties during the review.
• What the investigation could mean for Nvidia's business.

What happens next

Expect updates as the board and news outlets share more. An investigation is not a finding of wrongdoing. Until more facts come out, the reports are best read as allegations under review.