OpenAI has accused Chinese AI startup DeepSeek of copying its models to create cost-efficient, high-performing AI systems. Microsoft, a major OpenAI investor, is investigating claims that DeepSeek trained its models using OpenAI’s API outputs.
This process, called “distillation,” has raised concerns about intellectual property theft. While OpenAI criticizes DeepSeek, it faces similar allegations for scraping the internet and using copyrighted material to train its models.
Critics, like Ed Zitron, highlight the irony of OpenAI’s complaints, given its own controversial practices. DeepSeek denies the claims, asserting its adherence to ethical standards and proprietary technology in AI development.