According to the indictment, he covertly uploaded confidential files from restricted internal repositories to his personal Google Cloud account. Investigators found that he bypassed safeguards by converting sensitive files into images to avoid detection, then syncing them outside monitored corporate channels. The stolen materials reportedly included detailed blueprints of how Google’s TPU chips are interconnected and optimized to train massive language models — the same systems that form the backbone of its advanced AI products.
The Department of Justice stated that the jury convicted Ding after an 11‑day trial on multiple counts of economic espionage and theft of trade secrets. Officials described the stolen information as the “crown jewels” of Google’s AI infrastructure, highlighting its immense commercial and strategic value.
Linwei Ding Activities Linked to China’s AI Ambitions
Prosecutors alleged that Ding’s activities were not simply acts of personal greed but part of a broader effort to serve China’s AI development goals. Investigators traced Ding’s participation in a Shanghai government‑sponsored talent program — an initiative designed to attract technologists who can bring advanced expertise back to China. In court filings, prosecutors argued that Ding positioned himself as a conduit of Google’s AI secrets to Chinese interests.
