Kathmandu: OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, has raised concerns that competitors, including Chinese firms, are using its work to rapidly develop their own artificial intelligence (AI) tools.
This comes after the sudden rise of DeepSeek, a Chinese AI app that reportedly performs at a level similar to ChatGPT but at a much lower cost. Bloomberg has reported that Microsoft, a major investor in OpenAI, is investigating whether OpenAI’s data has been misused.
David Sacks, the recently appointed White House “AI and crypto czar,” suggested on Fox News that DeepSeek may have used OpenAI’s models to improve its own through a technique called “knowledge distillation.” OpenAI, in a statement, claimed that Chinese and other companies were “constantly trying to distill” the work of leading US AI firms.
Experts remain skeptical about DeepSeek’s claims of developing its model from scratch. Naomi Haefner, a professor of technology management, stated that if DeepSeek had used OpenAI’s data, its claims of low-cost training would be misleading. Crystal van Oosterom, an AI expert, acknowledged that DeepSeek has built upon publicly available research from Western institutions but noted that AI development often involves building on existing work.
Security Concerns and US Response
The US government is also assessing the national security risks associated with DeepSeek. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the National Security Council is looking into potential threats. Meanwhile, the US Navy has reportedly banned its members from using DeepSeek due to “security and ethical concerns.”
Adding to the controversy, DeepSeek claims it has been targeted by cyberattacks and has temporarily limited new user registrations. A notice on its website suggests ongoing large-scale attacks on its software.
With concerns over data safety and intellectual property rights growing, the debate over AI ethics and security is likely to intensify in the coming months.
Source: BBC