It has been reported that Chinese startup DeepSeek may have illegally obtained data from OpenAI to create its popular R1 AI model
Information has surfaced that Microsoft and OpenAI have launched an investigation into Chinese startup DeepSeek, which is suspected of improperly accessing OpenAI data.
Here's What We Know
Attention to DeepSeek increased after its R1 model, which can mimic human thinking, quickly gained popularity and became a leader in the Apple App Store. Also, this AI model is interesting because it cost many times less to create than its American counterparts. However, Microsoft and OpenAI are concerned that DeepSeek may have used OpenAI's API to extract a significant amount of data without authorisation.
Last autumn, Microsoft security researchers detected suspicious activity related to DeepSeek and notified OpenAI of a possible breach. If those suspicions are confirmed, DeepSeek's actions could qualify as a violation of OpenAI's terms of service and an attempt to circumvent data access restrictions.
So far, neither Microsoft nor OpenAI has made official statements about the investigation. If the allegations are confirmed, it could seriously affect DeepSeek's reputation and cause further friction between Chinese and American companies in the artificial intelligence field.
Source: Bloomberg
