OpenAI is examining whether Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) startup DeepSeek improperly obtained data from its models to build a popular new AI assistant, a spokesperson confirmed to The Hill. The ChatGPT maker said it is “reviewing indications that DeepSeek may have inappropriately distilled” its models.

OpenAI believes DeepSeek used a process called “distillation,” which helps make smaller AI models perform better by learning from larger ones.

Chinese artificial intelligence company DeepSeek disrupted Silicon Valley with the release of cheaply developed AI models that compete with flagship offerings from OpenAI — but the ChatGPT maker suspects they were built upon OpenAI data.

It’s impossible to look at the Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek’s new AI model without comparing it against OpenAI, the dominant American rival.

The Chinese artificial intelligence firm DeepSeek has rattled markets with claims its latest AI model performs on a par with those of OpenAI, despite using less advanced, more energy efficient compute

KEY TAKEAWAYS OpenAI said Wednesday that it is probing whether Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek improperly used its data to launch the low-cost model that spooked markets Monday.The comment by OpenAI follows a Bloomberg report that both OpenAI and its biggest backer Microsoft are investigating DeepSeek's model.

David Sacks says OpenAI has evidence that Chinese company DeepSeek used a technique called "distillation" to build a rival model.

OpenAI has accused Chinese AI start-up DeepSeek of using its proprietary models to train an open-source competitor.