OpenAI Claims DeepSeek Used Its AI Model for Rival Chatbot Training, Sparking Global Market Turmoil

TDT | Manama
Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

OpenAI has reportedly claimed that Chinese AI company DeepSeek may have used its AI model to train its rival chatbot, according to Bloomberg News. This revelation comes amid concerns that DeepSeek’s R1 model, which has gained significant attention for achieving impressive results, was trained using data that may have been sourced without authorization from OpenAI.

The release of DeepSeek's open-source R1 model sent shockwaves through global financial markets, raising questions about the competitive landscape of AI development. DeepSeek has seemingly achieved comparable results to established players such as OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft, despite utilizing far fewer resources. This has prompted doubts about the need for massive computational power to build state-of-the-art AI models, shaking investor confidence in AI-focused tech companies.

As a result, Nvidia, a leading chipmaker, experienced the largest one-day decline in stock value in its history on Monday, before recovering somewhat on Tuesday. On Wednesday, global stock markets steadied, with Japan's Topix rising 0.7%, Australia’s ASX up by 2.9%, and the FTSE 100 holding steady.

OpenAI and its major backer, Microsoft, have reportedly been investigating whether DeepSeek obtained data from OpenAI's products illegally. According to the Financial Times, OpenAI's leadership, including CEO Sam Altman, suspects DeepSeek may have engaged in "distillation"—a technique where one AI model is used to train another by extracting its knowledge.

This alleged data breach could trigger further tensions in the ongoing technological rivalry between the U.S. and China. Venture capitalist David Sacks, a former AI and cryptocurrency advisor under President Trump, confirmed on Fox News that there is "substantial evidence" suggesting DeepSeek used OpenAI’s models to distill knowledge, a practice that would violate OpenAI's terms of service.

While OpenAI has faced its own legal challenges, including a lawsuit from the New York Times over unauthorized data use, the claims about DeepSeek's actions could open a new front in the battle for AI supremacy.

As the situation unfolds, the global AI sector is likely to see further regulatory scrutiny, as leading companies strive to safeguard their intellectual property and innovation from being distilled or appropriated by competitors.