Google Engineer Indicted for Allegedly Stealing AI Trade Secrets for China

A federal grand jury has indicted Google engineer Linwei Ding, also known as Leon Ding, for allegedly stealing trade secrets related to Google's AI chip software and hardware. The indictment accuses Ding of stealing over 500 confidential files containing AI trade secrets while working covertly for China-based companies.

The stolen files reportedly include software designs for Google's tensor processing unit (TPU) chips, hardware and software specifications for GPUs used in Google's data centers, and designs for Google's machine learning workloads. These trade secrets are crucial in the development of AI technology.

The alleged theft occurred between May 2022 and May 2023, during which Ding transferred the files to his personal Google Cloud account. To avoid detection, he copied the data from Google source files into the Apple Notes application on his Google-issued MacBook laptop and converted them into PDFs.

Less than a month after the theft began, Ding was offered a position as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) by a Chinese machine learning company called Rongshu. He then flew to China for five months to raise funds for the company and subsequently founded and led a machine learning startup named Zhisuan, all while still employed at Google. He resigned from Google in December 2023 amid suspicions from the company.

The indictment also alleges that Ding faked his presence at Google's office in the US by having another employee scan his badge while he was actually in China. These actions demonstrate a deliberate and calculated effort to steal valuable trade secrets and benefit China's AI technology development.

If convicted, Ding will face up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each of the four counts of theft of trade secrets.

The indictment comes at a time of heightened tensions between the US and China in the AI technology race. The US government has been working to restrict China's access to AI-related chips, fearing intellectual property theft and national security risks.

Google has strict safeguards in place to protect its confidential information and trade secrets. After discovering the theft, the company promptly referred the case to law enforcement. Google spokesperson José Castañeda expressed gratitude to the FBI for their assistance in protecting their information and affirmed their commitment to cooperate closely with the authorities.

The indictment of Linwei Ding serves as a reminder of the importance of safeguarding AI trade secrets and the potential consequences of their theft. It highlights the need for continued vigilance and robust security measures to protect valuable intellectual property in the ever-advancing field of AI technology.

In conclusion, the indictment of a Google engineer for allegedly stealing AI trade secrets for China underscores the ongoing challenges and risks associated with protecting valuable intellectual property in the digital age. It serves as a reminder of the need for companies to prioritize security measures and cooperate with law enforcement agencies to combat trade secret theft.