KUALA LUMPUR: Images of one of the world's most high-profile tech CEOs signing a woman's tight-fitting top at an expo in Taiwan have ignited a media and online frenzy.
The South China Morning Post reported that a video posted on social media platform Threads on June 4 shows Jensen Huang, the CEO of US hardware giant Nvidia, surrounded by fans seeking autographs.
One woman exposed her chest area and requested Huang to sign her top, prompting him to ask: "Is that a good idea?"
Huang then ultimately granted her request, signing her top.
The woman later shared a photo of the signed top on Instagram, captioning it: "Adrenaline rush today, my wish fulfilled! I shook hands with the 'AI Godfather,' and he also signed my phone case and clothes. Hoping for great fortune this year!"
The incident occurred at the Computex 2024 trade show in Taipei on June 4, as reported by the Taiwan newspaper China Times.
Computex 2024, running from June 4 to 7, is one of Asia's premier computer exhibitions, highlighting technological advancements, exploring innovation, and discussing the future of information and communications technology.
Stock Talk also posted a photo of Huang signing the woman's top on X (formerly Twitter), captioning it: "This image is not AI generated."
"I bet this top could sell for US$500,000," commented one online observer on X.
"Huang is fulfilling a fan's wish, I see no problem with it," said another.
However, Huang's autograph has also sparked debate on mainland social media.
"He should have refused the woman's request. It is somewhat disrespectful," wrote one observer on Douyin.
Nvidia's response was brief yet polite: "Thank you for reaching out, we'll decline to comment."
Huang, a Taiwanese-American businessman and electrical engineer, founded Nvidia in 1993.
The company has grown into the world's largest semiconductor manufacturer and a key player in artificial intelligence (AI) applications. Nvidia's development of the graphics processing unit (GPU) in 1999 spurred the growth of the PC gaming market, redefined computer graphics, and ushered in the modern AI era.
As of June 5, Forbes estimated Huang's net worth at US$102 billion. The 61-year-old billionaire is celebrated in Taiwan for his contributions to AI and his approachable personality, earning him the nickname "the Godfather of AI."
In November 2022, Huang made a surprise appearance in a street live stream of two female singers in Taiwan, requesting several Lady Gaga songs and garnering praise for his down-to-earth demeanor.
On June 2, he delivered an inspiring keynote speech to a packed audience ahead of Computex 2024 in Taiwan, explaining how the AI era is driving a new global industrial revolution. Huang said that computers are "no longer just an instrument for information storage or data processing, but a factory for generating intelligence for every industry."