Chinese Firm Linked to Google AI Thief Traces to Sam Altman’s Past Venture
U.S. sanctions target Chinese firm tied to Google AI thief with roots in Sam Altman’s Y Combinator program.
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The U.S. State Department has sanctioned a Chinese firm, MiraclePlus, and four related entities over their ties to former Google engineer Linwei Ding, who was convicted of stealing the company’s AI trade secrets. The sanctions were imposed following a federal court order that highlighted the firm’s role in funding Ding’s illegal activities.
Roots in Y Combinator Program
MiraclePlus traces back to a Chinese program launched by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman while he was running Y Combinator in 2018. According to Bloomberg, Ding, who was convicted of stealing Google’s AI trade secrets, founded Shanghai Zhisuan Technology in 2023 and sought funding from MiraclePlus through its program. The company received approximately $700,000 in exchange for a small ownership stake, according to a federal court order.
Background on Linwei Ding
Ding was found guilty of economic espionage and trade secret theft in January, with a federal jury convicting him on seven charges of economic espionage and seven more for trade secret theft. However, he was acquitted of the espionage charges due to a lack of evidence that he took the files for the Chinese government. The theft of trade secrets was described as a serious threat to U.S. economic, foreign policy, and national security interests.
Formation of MiraclePlus
MiraclePlus was formed by Lu Qi, a former Microsoft and Baidu executive who was hired by Altman to run YC China. After Y Combinator shut down the program in 2019, Lu and the former team launched MiraclePlus. While Lu was not among those sanctioned, his role in the firm’s formation remains under scrutiny.
Y Combinator’s Stance
A Y Combinator spokesperson clarified that the organization has no affiliation with MiraclePlus or Lu Qi, emphasizing the separation between the two entities. Altman, who stepped down as Y Combinator’s president in 2019 to focus on OpenAI, has not commented on the matter, as has the State Department and OpenAI.
Implications for U.S. Security
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott stated that the theft of trade secrets poses a significant threat to U.S. interests. The case highlights the ongoing concerns about intellectual property theft and the role of international firms in facilitating such activities.
Source: Daily Caller
