New Delhi, Nov. 14 -- Jensen Huang, one of the most influential voices defending the artificial intelligence industry's rapid expansion, has resigned as Nvidia CEO amid a scandal involving an alleged affair with a woman suspected of spying for China. His exit comes at a difficult time for the AI industry, with growing political opposition to data centres and demands for tighter controls on the technology.

For years, Huang pushed back against calls to slow AI development, arguing that the technology would transform industries and that the US needed to stay ahead of China. His departure now leaves the industry without one of its most powerful public advocates at a time when its ambitions are facing growing resistance.

Nvidia's board has a...