Something big just happened in the AI world and OpenAI isn’t happy about it.
The company behind ChatGPT is calling out rivals, including those in China, for allegedly using its work to speed up their own AI breakthroughs. And the biggest shock? DeepSeek, a new Chinese AI model, is suddenly making waves delivering ChatGPT-level performance at a fraction of the cost.
Is OpenAI’s lead under threat?
Microsoft a major investor in OpenAI is investigating whether DeepSeek or others have used OpenAI’s data without permission. White House officials are also looking into the national security risks, with concerns that AI models built outside the U.S. could become difficult to control.
David Sacks, the recently appointed White House AI and Crypto Czar, didn’t hold back. Speaking on Fox News, he claimed DeepSeek may have "distilled" knowledge from OpenAI’s models a technique that lets one artificial intelligence system learn from another without direct copying.
"There’s substantial evidence that DeepSeek did exactly that," Sacks said. "I expect leading AI companies to take action to stop these copycat models soon."
Security Concerns & Cyber Attacks
It’s not just intellectual property battles. The U.S. Navy has already banned DeepSeek’s app, warning staff about potential security and ethical risks. Cybersecurity experts are raising red flags too, pointing out that the app collects large amounts of user data and stores it on servers in China.
Meanwhile, DeepSeek claims it’s under attack. The company says it's facing large-scale cyber attacks, forcing it to temporarily limit new registrations. Chinese state media has echoed these claims, suggesting the attacks have been increasing in intensity.
What’s Next?
The rise of DeepSeek is shaking up the artificial intelligence industry. Until now, many believed that U.S. companies had an insurmountable lead in AI, especially with strict chip bans limiting China’s access to advanced tech. But this sudden breakthrough has raised big questions:
- Did DeepSeek really develop its AI independently?
- Could this trigger a new wave of AI security crackdowns?
- Is the U.S. at risk of losing its AI dominance?
One thing’s for sure this isn’t just a tech story anymore. It’s a global race, and the stakes have never been higher.