Jensen Huang is Out, but Problems Remain for NVIDIA and the Industry

The resignation of the CEO is the first step, but not the last. There remains work to be done to address these economic espionage issues at NVIDIA and at other companies!

The NVIDIA board and incoming CEO should do 3 things to protect its technology, rebuild its reputation, and ensure it doesn’t fall victim again:

1. Block NVIDIA Tech and Products to China: (protect NVIDIA’s technology) Immediately restrict all sensitive NVIDIA technology sharing with China and Chinese companies to protect the company’s and America’s high-tech innovation and industry plans. This will help sever China’s influence in the US chip R&D and supply chains.

At a minimum, this must include tech the CEO and company previously advocated sharing with China, but should also go further to show how seriously the Board takes this situation and to send a message to national-level adversaries (ex. China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and other nations) who are pursuing such tactics against NVIDIA and other leaders of Western companies.

2. Advocate for Regulations: (protect NVIDIA’s reputation) After such an egregious compromise by a foreign power, NVIDIA must become a staunch political advocate to protect not only chip technology, but all other computing and AI related tech that China is seeking to obtain. 
 
 It is imperative that NVIDIA use its copious resources to show its leadership will be staunch advocates of protecting against such economic espionage. They must support industry groups, regulators, investigators, and lobbyists who are working across industries to protect Western digital intellectual property, sovereignty, and independence.

3. Establish a Board-Level Action Group: (protect NVIDIA's future) The board must create a dedicated, permanent, independent action team to maintain vigilance and protect its technology, people, customers, and reinforce shareholder trust. This oversight body must report directly to the board and act immediately in 3 ways:

- First, look for other NVIDIA executives, engineers, and other influential persons in the company who are also being targeted or exploited. If China targeted Jensen, they are also targeting others in the company. That is standard practice, and they must be weeded out.

- Second, initiate an investigation of all suppliers and partners to restrict access, data sharing, and collaborations that benefit China. They should work with the FBI, NCSC, and international counterintelligence agencies to identify potential third-party adversaries.

- Third, they establish permanent working relationships with international counter-economic-espionage agencies and share best practices with other technology companies that are likely being targeted. Teamwork and information sharing across the community are incredibly valuable to counter such threats. NVIDIA is not alone.



What would you recommend to the NVIDIA board? ...let me know what you think in the comments.