Microsoft and OpenAI are conducting an investigation into whether individuals associated with the Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek may have improperly accessed OpenAI’s data, according to recent media reports.
Sources cited by Bloomberg revealed that Microsoft’s security team identified unusual activity last fall, suggesting that individuals possibly linked to DeepSeek had extracted substantial amounts of information through OpenAI’s API. This API, which is made available to authorized developers, enables them to incorporate OpenAI’s AI models into their own platforms.
As OpenAI’s largest investor, Microsoft flagged the suspected breach to the company, raising concerns that it might violate OpenAI’s terms of service or indicate an attempt to bypass data access limitations, the report stated.
DeepSeek’s Rise in the AI Industry Amidst Investigation
The probe comes at a time when DeepSeek has been gaining momentum in the AI industry, particularly after unveiling its open-source model R1. The company claims this model is capable of matching or even surpassing top AI systems developed by OpenAI, Google, and Meta.
On Tuesday, during an interview with Fox News, President Trump’s AI policy advisor, David Sacks, alleged that DeepSeek may have used OpenAI’s models to extract knowledge and develop its own technology, a process commonly known as model distillation.
DeepSeek has recently promoted R1 as a cost-effective alternative to US AI systems, boasting superior performance in fields such as mathematics and general knowledge. The startup’s growing influence has reportedly shaken confidence in US AI dominance, triggering a massive decline in tech stocks and wiping out nearly $1 trillion in market value.
The ongoing investigation by Microsoft and OpenAI could have major implications for data security, intellectual property protection, and the broader AI landscape, particularly as tensions between US and Chinese AI firms continue to escalate.
