A former software engineer at Google has been arrested and charged with stealing artificial intelligence technology from the company while collaborating with two Chinese-based companies. The Justice Department announced the arrest of a Chinese national, who faces four counts of federal trade secret theft, each carrying a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
The arrest was part of ongoing efforts to combat Chinese economic espionage and address national security concerns related to advancements in artificial intelligence. FBI Director emphasized the detrimental impact of stealing innovative technology and trade secrets from American companies, highlighting the potential economic and national security consequences.
Justice Department officials have been raising concerns about the potential misuse of AI technologies by foreign adversaries to undermine the United States. The administration's Disruptive Technology Strike Force has prioritized AI enforcement, recognizing the risks posed by emerging technologies.
An indictment revealed that the former Google engineer, hired in 2019, allegedly uploaded confidential files to a personal Google Cloud account. Shortly after the theft began, he was offered a CTO position at a Chinese technology company specializing in AI. Additionally, he founded a startup in China focused on training large AI models using supercomputing chips, without disclosing these affiliations to Google.
The engineer resigned from Google and was later discovered presenting as CEO of one of the Chinese companies at an investor conference in Beijing. Surveillance footage revealed attempts to mislead Google about his presence at work while he was in China.
The case underscores the risks associated with intellectual property theft and unauthorized technology transfer. The accused individual, aged 38, is yet to have legal representation.
