ChatGPT Creator Claims China's DeepSeek AI Uses OpenAI Data

OpenAI has raised concerns that China's new and inexpensive AI model, DeepSeek, may have been built using OpenAI's data. The emergence of DeepSeek has rattled the US tech industry, leading to significant stock drops for major AI companies, including Nvidia. DeepSeek claims its R1 model offers a cheaper alternative to western AI products like ChatGPT while requiring much less computing power. The company has gained popularity, becoming one of the most downloaded free apps in the US. OpenAI and Microsoft are investigating whether DeepSeek utilized OpenAI's API in creating its model. The allegations suggest a violation of OpenAI's terms through a technique called distillation, which extracts knowledge from larger AI models. This situation highlights the ongoing debate surrounding intellectual property in AI training, especially amid a backdrop of lawsuits related to copyright infringement in AI models and outputs.

The implications are significant, as DeepSeek challenges the dominance of established AI companies by offering lower-cost solutions. This raises questions about the sustainability of current AI investments and practices among U.S. companies, as investors react to the threat posed by cheaper competition possibly built on unfair practices. It also underscores the contentious nature of AI development regarding intellectual property rights and copyright issues.

DeepSeek is a new player in the AI landscape, often compared to models like ChatGPT developed by OpenAI. The rise of generative AI has sparked numerous debates regarding the ethical use of data to train AI models, leading to lawsuits from prominent organizations like The New York Times and authors who claim their works have been unlawfully used. The outcome of these disputes may profoundly influence the future of AI development and its relationship with copyright law.