Three people, including two former Google employees, have been charged in the United States for allegedly stealing confidential information about Google’s Tensor chip, the processor used in Pixel smartphones. The U.S. Department of Justice has filed 14 felony charges, including conspiracy, theft of trade secrets, and destruction of evidence.
Key Highlights
- Three people charged: two ex-Google employees and one associate.
- Accused of stealing trade secrets related to Google’s Tensor chip.
- Google reported the issue quickly to law enforcement.
- Past leaks of Tensor G5 and G6 chips have already raised concerns.
- If convicted, they could face up to 20 years in prison.
- Case highlights rising importance of AI and semiconductor secrecy.
Who Was Charged?
The indictment names:
- Samane Gandari, a former Google hardware engineer.
- Sorol Gandari, her sister, who worked as an intern.
- Mohammad Javad Kosabi, Samane’s husband, who has previously applied to Google.
Authorities claim they were involved in taking confidential information about the Tensor chip and sharing it with other companies.
Google’s Response
Google stated that it takes the protection of sensitive information very seriously. The company explained that it immediately reported the issue to law enforcement once it was discovered. A spokesperson said:
“This indictment is an important step to accountability. We remain committed to protecting trade secrets.”
Why Tensor Matters
The Tensor chip is central to Google’s Pixel strategy. It powers advanced AI features, camera performance, and machine learning tasks. Any leak of its design or future plans could give competitors an unfair advantage.
In fact, in 2024, internal documents about the upcoming Tensor G5 and G6 chips were leaked, and Google has already taken legal action against those involved.
Possible Penalties
The three accused face multiple felony charges. If convicted of the most serious crimes, they could face up to 20 years in prison.
This case highlights how semiconductor and AI technology have become critical assets in today’s competitive market. Protecting trade secrets is now more important than ever, not just for Google but for the entire tech industry.
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