OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, is investigating claims that Chinese startups like DeepSeek are utilizing its technology to create competing AI products. The company has expressed concerns that its models are being used without authorization, potentially infringing on intellectual property rights.

“We know PRC based companies – and others – are constantly trying to distill the models of leading US AI companies. As the leading builder of AI, we engage in countermeasures to protect our IP, including a careful process for which frontier capabilities to include in released models, and believe as we go forward that it is critically important that we are working closely with the U.S. government to best protect the most capable models from efforts by adversaries and competitors to take US technology,” said OpenAI, speaking to TechRadar on the matter. 

DeepSeek has recently gained attention for developing an AI system comparable to those of US giants like OpenAI, but at a fraction of the cost and computing power. This development has led to a significant drop in Nvidia’s market value and declines for other major tech stocks.

DeepSeek’s rapid advancement has raised concerns among experts. Yoshua Bengio, a prominent figure in AI research, warned that increased competition in the field could heighten safety risks, as international panels point to AI’s potential for malicious use.

Additionally, DeepSeek has faced scrutiny over data privacy issues. Italian and Irish regulators are seeking information on how data collected by the chatbot could be used by the Chinese government, leading to the app being blocked from some app stores in Italy.

OpenAI’s concerns highlight the broader issue of intellectual property protection in the rapidly evolving AI industry. As AI technology becomes more advanced and widespread, ensuring that innovations are not misappropriated remains a significant challenge.