In a significant development within the artificial intelligence (AI) sector, Microsoft and OpenAI are jointly investigating whether a group associated with the Chinese AI startup DeepSeek has improperly obtained data outputs from OpenAI's technology.This inquiry, reported by Bloomberg News, underscores the growing concerns over data security and intellectual property in the rapidly evolving AI industry.
DeepSeek, founded in Hangzhou in 2023, has quickly risen to prominence with its innovative AI models.The company's AI assistant recently surpassed OpenAI's ChatGPT as the top free app on Apple's App Store in the United States, highlighting its rapid ascent in the AI landscape.
However, this success has not been without controversy.DeepSeek has faced scrutiny over its data practices, particularly concerning the collection and storage of U.S. user data on servers located in China.This practice has sparked national security concerns in the U.S., drawing parallels to previous debates surrounding other Chinese tech platforms.
In response to these concerns, Italy's data protection authority, the Garante, has sought information from DeepSeek regarding its data protection measures.The regulator has requested details on the types of data collected, their sources, purposes, legal basis for collection, and whether the data is stored in China.DeepSeek has been given 20 days to respond to these inquiries.
Amid these regulatory challenges, DeepSeek reported experiencing "large-scale malicious attacks" that disrupted new user registrations.Despite these attacks, existing users were able to access the platform without issues.
The rapid rise of DeepSeek has also had significant market implications.The launch of its AI assistant led to a substantial sell-off in U.S. technology stocks, with major companies like Nvidia, Alphabet, and Microsoft experiencing notable declines in their stock prices.This development has been described as a "wake-up call" for U.S. tech firms, emphasizing the intensifying global competition in the AI sector.
As the investigation by Microsoft and OpenAI continues, the situation highlights the complex interplay between innovation, data security, and international competition in the AI industry. The outcomes of this inquiry could have far-reaching implications for global AI development and the policies governing data protection and intellectual property.
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