Ex-Google engineer charged with stealing AI secrets

An ex-Google engineer has been charged with stealing trade secrets related to the company’s autonomous vehicle technology. Anthony Levandowski, who worked for Google’s self-driving car project before leaving to start his own company, is accused of downloading thousands of files containing sensitive information before departing.

The stolen data allegedly included details about Google’s Lidar technology, which is used in self-driving cars to detect objects and navigate the surrounding environment. Levandowski is now facing criminal charges related to the theft, with prosecutors claiming that he intended to use the information to benefit his new startup.

This case highlights the ongoing challenges surrounding intellectual property and trade secrets in the tech industry, particularly as companies continue to invest heavily in AI and autonomous technologies. It serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting proprietary information and ensuring that employees adhere to ethical standards when handling sensitive data.