Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, has stepped down after a scandal, causing ripples in Vietnam. Local tech companies are worried about potential disruptions in the supply of artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductors, while individual investors express dissatisfaction over a sharp decline in NVIDIA's stock price.
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According to reports from Vietnamese tech media outlet TechTimes and local news on November 13, Huang's resignation introduces uncertainty for Vietnamese tech companies reliant on NVIDIA semiconductors. TechTimes analyzed that Huang's departure could impact the procurement of AI semiconductors and technology investments in Vietnam.
NVIDIA had previously identified Vietnam as a key hub for AI collaboration and was expanding its investments in the local tech ecosystem. In December 2024, NVIDIA announced plans to establish the first AI research and development (R&D) center in Vietnam in partnership with the government. At that time, Jensen Huang expressed his excitement about accelerating AI development in Vietnam and emphasized strengthening collaborations with local research institutions, startups, and businesses.
At that time, NVIDIA was supporting and collaborating with over 100 AI startups and 65 universities in Vietnam and had established a partnership with FPT Smart Cloud. Consequently, major tech companies in Vietnam, including FPT AI, have been utilizing NVIDIA's RTX and H100 products to develop AI models and operate cloud services.
Given Huang's direct involvement in local AI initiatives, the stability of existing collaborations and semiconductor supplies has become a focal point for the Vietnamese tech industry following his abrupt resignation.
Local media report that if NVIDIA's management transition prolongs, the delivery schedules for large semiconductor orders could be delayed, or procurement costs could rise. In fact, Vietnamese tech distributors Phong Vu and An Phat have noted an increase in pre-order demand for the RTX 4090 and H100 products.
The potential tightening of U.S. semiconductor export controls to China is also seen as a variable. U.S. authorities are investigating whether MegaSpeed, associated with Alice Huang, was involved in helping Chinese companies secure advanced AI semiconductors.
TechTimes noted, "If U.S. export reviews are intensified, Vietnamese companies may face additional documentation requirements or stringent approval processes in their semiconductor purchasing. As a result, some firms may consider products from other semiconductor suppliers like AMD." Experts have also pointed out that the focus should be on the company's ability to execute plans amid the management vacuum rather than NVIDIA's technological competitiveness.
Michael Feldman, a portfolio manager at ClearBridge Investments, a global asset management firm under Franklin Templeton, stated, "It's not dangerous for NVIDIA to suddenly lose its technology development plans. The direction for the next few years has already been set. The real issue is the ability to execute those plans. Jensen Huang was a key conductor overseeing a very complex organization." He added, "In situations where bottlenecks occur across various fields, the ability to coordinate them itself becomes a competitive advantage."
"Someone else's husband cheated, but my money is gone..." Local Netizens React
Meanwhile, Vietnamese netizens have voiced their dissatisfaction over NVIDIA's stock decline and criticized the personal scandal. In comments on related articles, one user shared a friend's reaction, saying, "Why is my money disappearing because someone else's husband cheated?" This highlights how Huang's personal issues have led to losses for stock investors. Another user expressed concern over stock fluctuations due to the management change, stating, "NVIDIA's stock has fluctuated again."
Some reactions indicated surprise at the speed of Huang's resignation. One user remarked, "That was a really quick resignation," expressing astonishment at the sudden management change. Some netizens suggested that Huang should completely step back from management to resolve his personal issues. One user commented, "At his age, it might be better to retire and spend time with his partner and take care of household matters."
Another user urged, "He should retire now," warning that if more extramarital affairs come to light, shareholders' stocks could become worthless. Criticism also arose regarding how personal behavior has impacted corporate management, with one user stating, "Ultimately, issues revealed in his personal life have ended his career."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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