Key Points
- The Verdict: Linwei “Leon” Ding, 38, was convicted on January 29, 2026, for stealing over 2,000 confidential files related to Google’s AI infrastructure.
- Total Convictions: The jury returned guilty verdicts on seven counts of economic espionage and seven counts of theft of trade secrets.
- Targeted Tech: Stolen data included blueprints for custom Tensor Processing Units (TPUs), Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), and software for Google’s supercomputing data centers.
- Sentence Potential: Ding faces up to 15 years in prison for each espionage count and 10 years for each trade secret count, with a status conference set for February 3, 2026.
- Secret Ventures: Prosecutors proved Ding was secretly serving as CTO for a Chinese startup and founded his own AI company while still employed by Google.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced on January 29, 2026, that a federal jury has convicted Linwei Ding, a former Google software engineer, for his role in a sophisticated scheme to funnel American artificial intelligence trade secrets to the People’s Republic of China. The 11-day trial, held in San Francisco, detailed how Ding systematically bypassed security protocols to benefit two Chinese technology firms.
Systematic Theft and Deception
The investigation revealed that Ding, who joined Google in 2019, began his illicit activities in May 2022. Prosecutors presented evidence showing that Ding copied sensitive information into the Apple Notes application on his company-issued laptop, converted those notes into PDF files, and then uploaded them to his personal Google Cloud account to evade data loss prevention systems.
In total, Ding transferred over 2,000 documents containing proprietary information. These trade secrets focused on the hardware infrastructure and software platforms that power Google’s supercomputing data centers, which are essential for training large-scale AI models. Specifically, the theft targeted Google’s custom-designed TPU chips, intended to reduce the company’s reliance on Nvidia hardware and provide a competitive edge over cloud rivals like Microsoft and Amazon.
Dual Lives: The Chinese Startup Connection
While drawing a salary from Google, Ding was secretly building a career in China’s rapidly expanding AI sector. By late 2022, he had accepted the role of Chief Technology Officer for Rongshu, a Beijing-based startup. By early 2023, he had founded his own company, Zhisuan Technology, where he acted as CEO.
In presentations to investors, Ding claimed he could “replicate and improve” Google’s technology to help China reach international levels of computing power. He even applied for a government-sponsored “talent plan” in Shanghai, which incentivizes the transfer of foreign research and knowledge to the Chinese state. Evidence at trial suggested he intended to use the stolen blueprints to jump-start the development of an AI supercomputer in China.
National Security Implications
The conviction marks a significant victory for the Disruptive Technology Strike Force, an interagency initiative launched by the Biden administration in 2023. U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian stated that the verdict sends a clear message that the theft of American intellectual capital for foreign interests will not go unpunished.
During the trial, the defense argued that Google’s security measures were insufficient and that Ding never actually sold or used the documents to build a functional product. However, prosecutors successfully argued that the mere intent to benefit a foreign power through the theft of trade secrets was enough to meet the legal threshold for conviction.
What Happens Next?
While the jury has delivered its verdict, the legal process continues. U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria ruled that Ding may remain out of custody until his sentencing, as he was not deemed a flight risk. A status conference is scheduled for February 3, 2026, where the timeline for his sentencing will be established. With 14 counts against him, the cumulative maximum sentence could reach well over 100 years, though federal sentencing guidelines typically result in a shorter duration.
