Microsoft and OpenAI are investigating whether individuals linked to the Chinese AI startup DeepSeek accessed OpenAI’s data without authorization. Bloomberg News reported that Microsoft’s security team detected unusual activity last fall, suspecting that DeepSeek-affiliated individuals extracted large amounts of data via OpenAI’s API, a crucial tool for accessing its AI services like ChatGPT. Microsoft, OpenAI’s biggest investor, promptly alerted the company about the possible breach.

The allegations surface just as DeepSeek gained attention for surpassing OpenAI’s ChatGPT in popularity on Apple’s US App Store, leading to a decline in tech stocks. The startup has drawn praise for its low-cost, high-performance AI models, which some experts believe could compete with leading US firms. However, these new claims cast doubt on the legitimacy of its rapid growth.

Adding to the controversy, White House AI and crypto advisor David Sacks suggested in a Fox News interview that DeepSeek may have extracted knowledge from OpenAI’s models, equating it to intellectual property theft. He claimed there is strong evidence supporting this.

While OpenAI did not explicitly name DeepSeek in its response, a spokesperson acknowledged that companies in China and elsewhere frequently attempt to replicate leading US AI models. The company emphasized its commitment to safeguarding its technology by selectively releasing capabilities and working closely with the US government to protect AI advancements.

The accusations against DeepSeek emerge amid escalating US-China tensions over technological dominance, further fueling concerns about the security of cutting-edge AI research.