Alphabet’s Google is currently facing a legal demand for $1.67 billion in damages related to the infringement of an AI-related patent in a federal trial in Boston.
Google logo. Image credit: Kai Wenzel via Unsplash, free license
The lawsuit was filed by a company called Singular Computing, which was founded by computer scientist Joseph Bates. The plaintiff claims that Google infringed on patents related to processors used in artificial intelligence technology.
Google allegedly copied Bates’ technology after discussions and meetings with him from 2010 to 2014, rather than entering into a licensing agreement. In turn, Google supposedly utilized Bates’ patented innovations to develop its own AI-supporting chips without proper authorization.
Later, Bates’ lawyer says, these innovations were incorporated into Google’s Tensor Processing Units, which are utilized to support artificial intelligence functionalities in various Google services such as Search, Gmail, and Translate.
Internal emails presented as evidence during the trial include Google’s chief scientist, Jeff Dean, expressing how Bates’ ideas were well-suited for their developments. Another employee acknowledged being influenced by Joe’s ideas.
Written by Vytautas Valinskas