Ex-Google Engineer Convicted of Stealing Confidential AI Technology
A federal jury in San Francisco has convicted Linwei Ding, a former Google software engineer, for economic espionage and theft of trade secrets. The case revolves around his illegal acquisition of confidential information related to Google’s artificial intelligence (AI) technology, which was meant to benefit the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Ding, who is 38 years old, faced seven counts of economic espionage and seven counts of theft of trade secrets.
Trial Details and Conviction
The jury reached its verdict after an 11-day trial overseen by U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria for the Northern District of California. This conviction marks the first time someone has been found guilty of AI-related economic espionage charges. The Assistant Attorney General for National Security, John A. Eisenberg, commented that Ding’s actions represented a serious breach of trust regarding advanced AI technology.
Key Events and Circumstances
- Ding was indicted in March 2024 and later received a superseding indictment in February 2025.
- The evidence indicated that he stole over 2,000 pages of confidential documents from Google between May 2022 and April 2023.
- Ding had affiliations with two PRC-based technology firms while employed at Google, including a prospective role as Chief Technology Officer.
- He was reportedly in the process of establishing his own technology company focused on AI and machine learning in the PRC.
Details of Stolen Technology
During the trial, it was revealed that Ding had unlawfully downloaded critical trade secrets related to Google’s supercomputing capabilities. These included:
- Architecture and functionality of Google’s Tensor Processing Units and Graphics Processing Units.
- Software that enables communication and task execution for a supercomputer.
- Information on Google’s custom-designed SmartNIC, vital for communication within their supercomputing infrastructure.
Ding’s Intentions and Future Sentencing
While presenting to potential investors, Ding claimed he could construct an AI supercomputer by leveraging Google’s technology. He also expressed intentions in late 2023 to apply for a government-sponsored “talent plan” in Shanghai, aimed at enhancing China’s technological landscape.
Ding’s legal troubles are not over; he is scheduled to appear for a status conference on February 3, 2026. He faces significant prison time, with a maximum of 10 years per theft of trade secrets count and up to 15 years for each economic espionage count, compounded by federal sentencing guidelines.
Closing Remarks from Officials
U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian emphasized that the jury’s ruling sends a strong message against such breaches of trust. Furthermore, FBI officials reiterated their commitment to protecting American innovation and national security from the threats posed by foreign adversaries, particularly China.
The ongoing collaboration between the FBI and private sector entities like Google is crucial for safeguarding sensitive technologies vital to the nation’s economic stature. This case underscores the mounting importance of intellectual property protection in the rapidly advancing field of artificial intelligence.
