Google settles for $1.67 billion over AI chip patents

Google reaches global settlement in AI chip patent dispute. According to a Reuters report, Singular Computing has filed a lawsuit against Google, alleging that Google illegally used its data processing innovations, and seeking $1.67 billion in damages. Details of the settlement were not disclosed, but Google and Singular representatives confirmed the agreement without clarification of details. Jose Castaneda, a Google spokesman, said the company respects Singular's patent rights and is ready to resolve the issue. For its part, Singular demanded $7 billion in monetary damages for infringement of its two patents. Details of the lawsuit Singular, founded by Joseph Bates, a Massachusetts computer scientist, claimed that Google used its technology in processors to support AI functions in Google services such as Google Search, Gmail, Google Translate and others. The lawsuit, which was filed in 2019, said Bates shared his inventions with Google between 2010 and 2014. The lawsuit alleges that Google's Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) were a copy of Bates' technology and infringed on two patents. In 2016, Google introduced TPU to support AI in various functions such as speech recognition, content generation, ad recommendations and others. Singular argued that versions of the second and third units introduced in 2017 and 2018 also infringed its patent rights. In a court appearance on Jan. 9, internal emails were released that showed Jeff Dean, Google's chief scientist, spoke with other employees about the usefulness of Bates' ideas for Google's development. Google denied the fact that its engineers met with Bates and insisted that the creation of the chips was carried out autonomously. The company argued that its technology was different from that described in Singular's patents. Additionally, Google has already settled for $5 billion in the US to settle a lawsuit over tracking users even when they were using incognito mode. In addition, Google agreed to pay $700 million to settle allegations of a monopoly in their Google Play app store. Apple has also discontinued the oxygen measurement feature in the new Apple Watch due to a patent dispute with medical company Masimo.

Answers to questions

Which dispute concerns Google?

Google has settled a $1.67 billion dispute over patents for artificial intelligence chips. Singular Computing sued Google, claiming that the use of its innovations in patents was illegal.

Who sued Google?

Singular Computing has filed a lawsuit against Google, accusing them of illegally using its innovation in artificial intelligence chip patents.

What compensation was demanded from Singular Computing?

Singular Computing demanded compensation in the amount of $1.67 billion in the dispute with Google.

More information

Google is a company that develops and provides services on the Internet, including search engine and other online services.
Singular Computing is a company that develops technologies in the field of artificial intelligence and patents its innovations.
Chip patents are protective documents that allow the owner to use and protect their technologies and innovations in the production of artificial intelligence chips.
Artificial intelligence is a branch of computer science that studies the creation of imitation of intelligence and mind in computer systems and programs.
Tensor Processing Units (TPU) are specialized processors developed by Google for use in artificial intelligence systems. They support data processing functions and performing complex calculations.

Google settles for 1 67 billion over AI chip patents