Jensen Huang's resignation as Nvidia chief dominates world press
The Nvidia CEO's departure over alleged affairs, including one with a suspected Chinese spy, sparks global debate on AI's future, while France loses to Italy in football and a viral raccoon raises big money for charity.
By Evelyn Adeyemi ·
The resignation of Jensen Huang as chief executive of Nvidia is leading press coverage around the world on Friday, November 13, with newspapers weighing what his fall means for the artificial intelligence industry and for trade relations between the United States and China.
Swiss daily Le Temps describes the episode as the "downfall of the king of chips", arguing that the case demonstrates how the personal conduct of tech moguls can shake entire corporate structures. Huang confessed to multiple affairs, including one with a woman whom US authorities suspect of being a Chinese spy. The Times of London reports that he allegedly had a third affair and that the fallout could reach US President Donald Trump, with Democrats now planning a congressional investigation into how much Trump knew. The scandal is also a personal blow. As The Times puts it: "He defied Silicon Valley tech mogul stereotypes as an apparently devoted father and husband married for 40 years. Now, his followers are struggling to come to terms with revelations that have tarnished the image of the man they revered."
Italian daily Il Manifesto declares it is "Game Over" for Huang, while French paper Le Figaro and the Financial Times focus on the consequences for artificial intelligence. Le Figaro calls the resignation "an earthquake for the world of AI, and particularly Nvidia's coveted, advanced AI chips". The Financial Times reports that shares plunged as uncertainty grows over who will succeed Huang. Nvidia's chief financial officer, Colette Kress, will take over in the interim, and French business daily La Tribune notes that the post-Jensen era at Nvidia has already begun.
On editorial pages, the Wall Street Journal looks for silver linings in the crisis, suggesting it could harden Congress's resolve to close loopholes in export controls and perhaps "educate Americans about the serious threat of Chinese corporate espionage." Chinese state outlet Global Times pushes back against the assumption that any ties to China automatically amount to a national security threat, writing: "The more accomplished and influential a person is, and the more centrally positioned they are between China and the US, the more vulnerable they may become to being singled out in the name of 'national security.'"
In football, Zinédine Zidane suffered his first defeat as coach of France, as Les Bleus lost 3-1 to Italy in Milan in the Nations League on Thursday amid rainy conditions. French sports paper L'Equipe laments Zidane's first loss in charge, while Italian daily Gazzetta dello Sport celebrates a "golden Italy" in jubilant tones.
Finally, there is happier news involving last year's viral drunk raccoon. The Independent recalls the animal that raided a Virginia liquor store, drank 14 bottles of alcohol and passed out beside a toilet, with a photo of the scene quickly spreading online. A local animal shelter has since cashed in by selling "Trashed Panda" shirts, mugs and hats in the raccoon's honour.
According to the report, the merchandise has brought in nearly $300,000 for the shelter, a sum that far exceeds the roughly $20,000 it typically collects in donations over an entire year.
