Microsoft and OpenAI are investigating a potential data breach linked to DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence startup. According to a Bloomberg report, Microsoft’s security researchers detected individuals believed to be connected to DeepSeek exfiltrating a large amount of data using OpenAI’s application programming interface (API) in the fall.
OpenAI’s API is the primary method through which software developers and business customers access OpenAI’s services. Microsoft, being the largest investor in OpenAI, notified the company about the suspicious activity.
The investigation comes after DeepSeek’s free AI assistant surpassed OpenAI’s ChatGPT on Apple’s App Store in the United States, sparking a tech stock selloff. David Sacks, the White House’s AI and crypto czar, stated in an interview with Fox News that it was “possible” DeepSeek stole intellectual property from the United States.
“There’s substantial evidence that what DeepSeek did here is they distilled the knowledge out of OpenAI’s models,” Sacks said. An OpenAI spokesperson echoed Sacks’ statement, noting that China-based companies frequently attempt to replicate the models of leading U.S. AI companies. The spokesperson emphasized that OpenAI engages in counter-measures to protect its intellectual property and is working closely with the U.S. government to safeguard its models.
Microsoft declined to comment on the matter, while DeepSeek was not immediately available for comment. The incident highlights the growing concerns regarding cybersecurity and intellectual property protection in the AI sector.
