Google and Singular Computing reach settlement in patent infringement lawsuit

Google has reached a settlement with Singular Computing in a patent infringement lawsuit over the use of chips that power the company’s AI technology. Singular Computing had alleged that Google misused its computer-processing innovations and sought $1.67 billion in damages. The lawsuit claimed that Google’s Tensor Processing Units, introduced in 2016 to support AI features in various Google services, copied Singular’s technology and infringed two patents.

During the trial’s opening statements, internal emails were presented that quoted Google’s now-chief scientist, Jeff Dean, discussing how Singular’s ideas could be “really well suited” for what Google was developing. However, Google countered the claims, stating that its chip designers never met Singular’s founder, Joseph Bates, and created the technology independently. The company argued that its technology was fundamentally different from what was described in Singular’s patents.

Representatives for Google and Singular confirmed the settlement, but no further information about it was provided. Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda reiterated that the company did not violate Singular’s patent rights and expressed satisfaction with resolving the matter.

Considering that the AI chip market is predicted to expand rapidly in the coming years, as the market research and consulting organization xResearch reported, this outcome could set a new precedent for companies that design their own AI chips.