A former Google software engineer has been convicted of stealing trade secrets pertaining to the search giant’s artificial intelligence technology, marking a significant development in the ongoing competition for AI dominance.
A federal jury in San Francisco found Linwei Ding, also known as Leon Ding, guilty on seven counts of economic espionage and seven counts of theft of trade secrets. Prosecutors alleged that Ding, 38, misappropriated thousands of pages of confidential information from Google with the intent to benefit the People’s Republic of China.
“In today’s high-stakes race to dominate the field of artificial intelligence, Linwei Ding betrayed both the U.S. and his employer by stealing trade secrets about Google’s AI technology on behalf of China’s government,” stated Roman Rozhavsky, assistant director of the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division. “Today’s verdict affirms that federal law will be enforced to protect our nation’s most valuable technologies and hold those who steal them accountable.”
This conviction is notable as it represents the first instance of an economic espionage conviction related to AI technology in the United States, according to the Department of Justice. The case underscores the intense global competition in AI development, a field where executives from major tech players like Google have publicly voiced concerns about the pace of advancements, particularly concerning capabilities originating from China. Recent commentary suggested that Chinese AI models could be mere months behind their Western counterparts.
The jury’s decision followed Ding’s indictment in 2024. The trial, presided over by U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria for the Northern District of California, spanned 11 days before reaching its conclusion.
According to the Department of Justice, between May 2022 and April 2023, Ding illicitly downloaded over 2,000 pages of Google’s AI trade secrets, transferring them to his personal Google Cloud account. During this period, Ding was reportedly associated with two Chinese technology firms and was in the process of establishing his own company.
The stolen trade secrets reportedly contained intricate details regarding the architecture of Google’s custom Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) chips and its graphics processing unit (GPU) systems. Furthermore, the information included specifications for Google’s proprietary SmartNICs, specialized network interface cards crucial for high-speed data exchange within its AI supercomputing infrastructure and cloud networking systems.
Ding’s defense attorney, Grant Fondo, argued that Google’s own security protocols were insufficient, contending that the documents in question were accessible to a broad number of employees and thus could not be considered trade secrets. He suggested that Google prioritized openness over stringent security measures.
Ding faces a potential maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment for each count of theft of trade secrets and 15 years for each count of economic espionage, as per the Department of Justice.
“We’re grateful to the jury for ensuring justice was served today, sending a clear message that stealing trade secrets carries severe consequences,” said Lee-Anne Mulholland, Google’s vice president of regulatory affairs.
This case highlights the significant proprietary value placed on advancements in artificial intelligence and the robust legal frameworks in place to protect intellectual property in this rapidly evolving technological landscape. The conviction serves as a stark reminder of the legal ramifications for individuals involved in the illicit transfer of sensitive AI research and development data.
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