A major controversy has erupted in the AI world as allegations surface that DeepSeek copy OpenAI’s AI technology to develop its own chatbot. OpenAI, along with David Sacks, an AI advisor to former President Trump, has suggested that DeepSeek may have used “knowledge distillation”, a method where an AI model learns by extracting data from an existing one. This method, explicitly prohibited by OpenAI’s terms, has raised serious concerns about intellectual property violations. However, no concrete evidence has been presented yet, leaving the industry divided over the legitimacy of these claims.
DeepSeek Copy OpenAI’s AI Technology?
DeepSeek has remained silent on the matter, possibly due to the Lunar New Year holidays in China, but the company has been facing other challenges, including cyberattacks that forced it to restrict new user registrations. Meanwhile, the AI market has been shaken by DeepSeek’s rapid rise, leading to a decline in Nvidia’s stock price as investors react to the new competition. With DeepSeek claiming to have developed its flagship AI model at a fraction of the cost of U.S. companies, suspicions have grown about the methods used to achieve such efficiency.
| Key Allegations Against DeepSeek | Details |
|---|---|
| Copying OpenAI’s Technology | Allegedly used “knowledge distillation” to train its model |
| Lower-Cost AI Development | Claims to have built AI at significantly lower costs |
| Cybersecurity Issues | Faced cyberattacks, restricting new user access |
| Market Impact | Nvidia stock price dropped due to DeepSeek’s competition |
OpenAI has made it clear that it will defend its intellectual property and is working closely with the U.S. government to investigate potential threats from foreign AI firms. However, OpenAI is also facing its own legal battles, including lawsuits over data usage and copyright infringement. This adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing debate about whether DeepSeek copy OpenAI’s AI technology or simply built a competitive model through legitimate means.
Despite the allegations, some industry experts argue that DeepSeek may not have directly copied OpenAI, but rather leveraged the growing open-source AI movement. Others believe that DeepSeek’s lower-cost AI model and higher efficiency in technical tasks suggest a level of innovation rather than outright plagiarism. The reality is that AI development often involves similar methodologies, making it difficult to prove direct copying.
A performance comparison between DeepSeek and OpenAI’s ChatGPT reveals interesting insights. While DeepSeek is faster and more accurate in coding and mathematics, ChatGPT offers better multimodal support and customization options. Additionally, DeepSeek is completely free, with significantly lower API costs than ChatGPT, making it an attractive alternative for developers and businesses.
| Feature | DeepSeek | ChatGPT |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Faster, especially in coding | Slower for technical tasks |
| Accuracy | Higher in math and programming | Better for creative writing |
| Cost | Free, with lower API pricing | Subscription-based model |
| Capabilities | Text-based only | Supports images and voice |
| Customization | Limited | Extensive personalization |
The big question remains: Did DeepSeek copy OpenAI’s AI technology, or is this simply a case of global AI competition? As the AI industry expands, tensions between U.S. and Chinese tech companies are expected to rise, with intellectual property disputes becoming more common. OpenAI’s concerns are valid, but without clear evidence, it remains a speculation-driven debate.
For now, DeepSeek continues to challenge OpenAI’s dominance, attracting interest from developers and investors looking for more affordable AI solutions. Whether this controversy leads to legal action or simply fuels further competition remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: AI development is becoming a high-stakes battleground, and the question of whether DeepSeek copy OpenAI’s AI technology will continue to dominate discussions in the tech world.
