Parallel Careers in China
As the data transfers were underway, Ding joined Beijing Rongshu Lianzhi Technology Co. Ltd. as its chief technology officer. He later departed to launch his own artificial intelligence supercomputing venture, Shanghai Zhisuan Technology Co. Ltd., in November 2022.
Google said it only became aware of Ding’s China-based activities a year later, when Ding was introduced as Zhisuan’s CEO at an investor conference in Beijing in November 2023.
Defense Pushes Back on Value of Data
Ding did not testify in his own defense. His legal team rested its case Tuesday after calling a technical expert who told jurors the documents would not enable anyone to replicate Google’s technology and carried limited competitive value.
That argument failed to persuade the jury.
The trial formally began Jan. 12.
Reactions After the Verdict
Ding declined to comment after the verdict was read. His attorney, Grant Fondo of Goodwin Procter LLP, said the defense respects the jury but is disappointed by the outcome.
Federal prosecutors also declined to comment.
The government’s case was led by Martha Boersch, Casey Boome, Molly K. Priedeman and Roland Chang of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California.
Ding’s defense team includes Grant P. Fondo, Farzad Feyzi, Darryl M. Woo, Rachel M. Walsh, Jessica Huang Fuzellier, Nicholas C. Wiley, Colette A. Lowry, Lora Krsulich and David Rapp-Kirshner of Goodwin Procter LLP.
As the Ex-Google Engineer AI Secrets theft suit closes this chapter, the verdict underscores growing federal scrutiny over the flow of sensitive AI technology—where lines of code can carry the weight of national strategy.
