A fabricated news report bearing the masthead of Chinese-language newspaper Lianhe Zaobao has been circulating online, falsely claiming that Nvidia founder Jensen Huang has taken up an academic position at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST).
The doctored report, dated Nov. 13, claimed that Huang had joined the university as an adjunct professor and strategic consultant. However, Zaobao has clarified that it never published the report, while HKUST has made no announcement about such an appointment.
Fake Report Copies Newspaper’s Front Page
The manipulated image closely resembles Zaobao’s front-page layout, featuring its masthead alongside a photograph of Huang delivering a speech and another showing the HKUST campus.
According to the fabricated article, Huang would participate in the university’s research into artificial intelligence and computing, while also accepting PhD students from two of its campuses.
It further attributed a statement to Huang describing HKUST as having the potential to become the “MIT of the East”, comparing the institution to the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States.
Several Details Expose Fabricated Report
Zaobao identified several inconsistencies that revealed the image was not authentic.
Among them was the reporter’s byline, which belonged to someone who had already left the newspaper. The email address printed on the report was also incorrect, while the listed cover price did not correspond with Zaobao’s actual selling price.
Although the report itself was fabricated, the photographs used were genuine.
Huang does have an existing connection with HKUST. In November 2024, the university awarded him an honorary doctorate in engineering, and he attended events on campus during that visit.
Fake Accounts Add To Online Misinformation
The fabricated report comes amid heightened public attention surrounding Huang, with misleading claims and questionable social media content increasingly appearing online.
A US-based non-profit organisation called Midas Project, which monitors artificial intelligence safety, reportedly identified more than 400 suspicious social media accounts posing as ordinary users.
According to South Korean publication Chosun Biz, these accounts were found defending Huang and supporting Nvidia’s decision to sell advanced AI semiconductor chips to Chinese companies.
The incident highlights how fabricated news reports can exploit the credibility of established media organisations, particularly when they use genuine photographs, familiar newspaper layouts and references to real events.
Readers should verify sensational claims through the original publication or official institutional announcements before sharing them online.