Google has taken legal action against one of its former employees, Linwei Ding, who stands accused of stealing AI secrets and sharing them with two Chinese companies. Ding, a Chinese national, was arrested at his home in Newark, California, on charges of theft of trade secrets related to artificial intelligence.

The allegations against Ding stem from his time as a software engineer at Google, where he reportedly illicitly obtained detailed information crucial to Google’s supercomputing data centers. These centers are instrumental in training large AI models through machine learning.

According to reports, Ding initiated the uploading of trade secrets from Google’s network to his personal Google Cloud account in May 2022. The indictment against him outlines that this theft continued until May 2023, during which time he allegedly began representing a Chinese tech company as its chief technology officer in investor meetings. Additionally, Ding is said to have founded his own technology company specializing in AI and machine learning by the end of May 2023.

The indictment further details Ding’s efforts to conceal his activities, including allegedly sending a document in November to his startup’s WeChat group discussing replicating and upgrading Google’s computational power platform. Moreover, Ding’s resignation from Google in December 2023 coincided with suspicions arising within the company, prompting swift action to refer the case to law enforcement.

Addressing the issue, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized the seriousness of protecting trade secrets and intelligence. “The Justice Department just will not tolerate the theft of our trade secrets and intelligence,” he stated during a conference in San Francisco.

The case against Ding underscores broader concerns surrounding the protection of intellectual property in the rapidly evolving field of AI. With advancements in technology, the potential for misuse and unauthorized access to sensitive information becomes more pronounced.

Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda reiterated the company’s commitment to safeguarding its confidential commercial information and trade secrets. “We have stringent safeguards in place to prevent the theft of our confidential commercial information and trade secrets,” he stated.

If convicted, Ding could face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and significant fines. The case serves as a reminder of the vigilance required to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information, safeguarding not only a company’s competitiveness but also national security.

For more such insightful news & updates around AI or Automation, explore other articles here. You can also follow us on Twitter.