Cummins Found Liable for AI Misuse

A jury in the Superior Court of Delaware awarded $23.3 million in damages to artificial-intelligence software provider C3 AI.

By David Conway

May 21, 2026

Enterprise artificial-intelligence software provider C3 AI announced that on May 19 a jury in the Superior Court of the State of Delaware returned a unanimous verdict in favor of C3 AI in a lawsuit against Cummins Inc., finding that Cummins misappropriated C3 AI’s trade secrets.

The jury awarded $23.3 million in damages to C3 AI, according to Business Wire.

C3 AI brought the case in November 2023, alleging that its licensee, Indiana-based Cummins, misappropriated trade secrets. The dispute centered on software and data modeling technology that C3 AI alleged Cummins improperly used after the companies worked together on predictive-maintenance and fuel-efficiency applications.

Cummins’ marine segment includes engines and generators, and is part of its broader power systems segment and its connected-engine strategy. The company’s C Command Connect system is “designed to help marine operators protect and enhance engine performance and manage costs,” according to the Cummins website.

A Cummins motion to dismiss C3 AI’s complaint was denied in 2024.

David Conway

Senior editor David Conway has been writing about news and issues in the recreational marine industry for more than 20 years. He is the author of Fishing Key West & the Lower Keys and is also a contributor to Saltwater Sportsman, a Firecrown title.