Microsoft and OpenAI Investigate Potential Unauthorized Data Use by DeepSeek-Linked Group
Microsoft and OpenAI are currently investigating whether a group associated with Chinese AI startup DeepSeek improperly accessed and utilized data from OpenAI’s technology, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The investigation began after Microsoft’s security researchers detected unusual data activity in the fall. Individuals believed to be linked to DeepSeek were observed extracting large amounts of data using OpenAI’s API, potentially violating OpenAI’s terms of service. Microsoft, OpenAI’s largest investor and technology partner, reported the incident to OpenAI, raising concerns about whether API restrictions were circumvented to obtain a higher volume of data than permitted.
DeepSeek recently launched its R1 open-source AI model, which claims to rival or outperform leading models from OpenAI, Google, and Meta across multiple benchmarks, including mathematical reasoning and general knowledge. The release of R1 has intensified competition in the AI industry, causing stocks of Microsoft, Nvidia, Oracle, and Google’s parent company Alphabet to drop, collectively erasing nearly $1 trillion in market value.
David Sacks, an AI advisor to former President Donald Trump, alleged in a Fox News interview that DeepSeek may have used a method known as distillation—a process where one AI model learns from another’s outputs—to develop its technology based on OpenAI’s models. However, Sacks did not provide direct evidence to support this claim.
In response, OpenAI did not directly address the claims about DeepSeek but acknowledged that PRC-based companies frequently attempt to extract knowledge from U.S. AI models. A company spokesperson emphasized OpenAI’s ongoing countermeasures to safeguard intellectual property and reiterated the importance of working with the U.S. government to prevent adversaries from leveraging American AI advancements.
The allegations highlight growing concerns over AI security, data protection, and global competition in artificial intelligence development.
