Landmark Verdict: Former Google Engineer Convicted in First US AI Economic Espionage Case

In a verdict that defines the high-stakes battle for artificial intelligence supremacy, a federal jury in San Francisco has found former Google software engineer Linwei (Leon) Ding guilty of stealing the company’s "crown jewels"—the proprietary hardware and software secrets that power its AI supercomputing infrastructure.

The decision, delivered on January 29, 2026, following an 11-day trial, marks the first-ever conviction in U.S. history for AI-related economic espionage. Ding, a 38-year-old Chinese national, was convicted on all 14 counts, including seven counts of economic espionage and seven counts of theft of trade secrets.

1. The "Calculated Breach": How 2,000 Pages Were Stolen
According to evidence presented by the Department of Justice (DOJ), Ding began his campaign of theft in May 2022, while working in Google’s supercomputing data centers. He utilized his authorized access to systematically siphon off over 500 unique confidential files (totaling more than 2,000 pages).

Deceptive Tactics: To avoid Google’s internal security filters, Ding copied proprietary data into the Apple Notes app on his company laptop, converted the notes into PDFs, and then uploaded them to his personal Google Cloud account.

The "Badge" Ruse: To conceal his travels to China while still on Google’s payroll, Ding allegedly asked a colleague to swipe his access badge at a Google office in California to make it appear he was working locally.

2. The Stolen "Crown Jewels"
The material stolen by Ding wasn't just code; it was the blueprint for the physical and logical architecture that allows Google to train large-scale AI models like Gemini.

3. The Chinese Connection: Founding a Rival Startup
While still an employee at Google, Ding was secretly building a parallel career in China’s burgeoning AI sector.

Dual Roles: By mid-2022, Ding was in discussions to become the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of a Beijing-based startup called Rongshu. By early 2023, he had founded his own company, Shanghai Zhisuan Technologies Co., serving as its CEO.

The "Talent Plan": Prosecutors revealed that Ding applied for a Shanghai government-sponsored "talent plan," a state-backed initiative designed to recruit overseas experts to bolster China's technological capabilities. In his application, he pledged to help China reach "international-level" computing power.

Deceptive Fundraising: Ding told potential investors that his startup could "replicate Google’s technology" and that he was one of only ten people globally with the knowledge to do so.

4. Legal Consequences and Sentencing
U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria has scheduled a status conference for February 3, 2026, to begin the sentencing phase.

Maximum Penalties: Ding faces up to 15 years in prison for each count of economic espionage and 10 years for each count of trade secret theft. He also faces fines totaling millions of dollars.

National Security Message: FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani stated the verdict "delivers a clear message" that the U.S. will aggressively protect its technological edge, particularly in the AI arms race.

DOJ Statement: "This conviction exposes a calculated breach of trust involving some of the most advanced AI technology in the world... Ding’s duplicity put U.S. technological leadership and competitiveness at risk."