Google faces $7 billion lawsuit over AI

Singular Computing, founded by scientist Joseph Bates in Massachusetts (USA), claims that Google stole Bates' artificial intelligence technology to put into products such as Google Search, Gmail, Google Translate and many other services.

Singular filed the lawsuit in 2019, and the trial is scheduled to begin this week in Boston. According to the complaint, Bates shared computer processing improvements with Google between 2010 and 2014. In 2016, Google introduced the Tensor processor to train AI for speech recognition, content creation, and more. However, Singular claims that Tensor copied and infringed on two of Joseph Bates' patents. The company is asking Google to pay $7 billion in damages, which is more than double the highest penalty ever awarded for patent infringement in the United States.

Meanwhile, Jose Castaneda, a Google spokesman, questioned Singular’s ​​patent, saying Google has been developing its processor for years. The company has also filed a separate lawsuit with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in Washington to invalidate Singular’s ​​patent.

Google said its engineers had argued with Bates about his technology and eventually refused to use it, telling Bates that his invention was not suitable for the range of applications Google was developing.

Singular Computing's attorney declined to comment. The trial is expected to last two to three weeks.