OpenAI Fuss and Muss over DeepSeek Using Its Software

On January 20, Chinese DeepSeek’s AI model is matching ChatGPT’s performance, heightening tensions in the AI market, with OpenAI expressing worry over its competitors’ usage of its research to accelerate their AI advancements, fearing its use would lead to AI national security concerns threatening the US.

DeepSeek has disrupted AI adoption and national security, alarming ChatGPT’s parent OpenAI with its ability to rival OpenAI’s technology at a fraction of the cost, fueling speculation about potential misuse. In response, Microsoft, OpenAI’s biggest investor, has launched an investigation into whether OpenAI’s software was exploited.

The BBC reached out to Microsoft and DeepSeek for comment.

David Sacks, who recently became the White House AI and cryptocurrency policy chief, commented about having similar doubts concerning DeepSeek, similarly to those at OpenAI.

“There’s substantial evidence that what DeepSeek did here is they distilled the knowledge out of OpenAI’s models,” Sacks said, adding, “I think one of the things you’re going to see over the next few months is our leading AI companies taking steps to try and prevent distillation… That would definitely slow down some of these copycat models.”

With the introduction of the Chinese AI mode, for the US, AI becoming a national security threat could be a tangible reality. Some speculate that the controversy around DeepSeek’s model is nothing but a negative marketing tactic, as it has drawn global attention to both China’s DeepSeek and Microsoft-backed OpenAI.

OpenAI emphasized the need for government intervention, stating the company is “constantly trying to distil the models of leading US AI companies” and also “as we go forward…it is critically important that we are working closely with the U.S. government to best protect the most capable models.”

Return of US National Security Agenda

On Wednesday, in the first ever White House briefing from Trump’s administration, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, addressed the AI national security concerns with journalists, confirming the National Security Council was reviewing the matter.

“I spoke with [the National Security Council] this morning, they are looking into what [the national security implications] may be,” she said, adding that similar thoughts made by President Donald Trump, who warned that Deepfakes should serve as a wake-up call to America’s tech industry.

Adding fire to fire, the US sees that AI is a threat to national security, as long as it’s not developed by American companies. The US Navy reportedly banned its staff from using DeepSeek’s applications due to “potential security and ethical concerns,” according to an announcement they had made.

According to CNBC, an email was sent to the staff of the US Navy warning them and stating that “potential security and ethical concerns associated with the model’s origin and usage.”

DeepSeek Taking the Spotlight, Dodging Bullets

Under the topic of AI national security threat DeepSeek, meanwhile, said it has been the target of several cyberattacks. The platform said on Monday it would temporarily restrict new user registration due to “large-scale malicious attacks” on its software.

A banner on DeepSeek’s website said the registration system could be experiencing problems because of the attacks. In the meantime, Yuyuan Tantian, one of China’s state broadcaster CCTV in charge of a social media platform reported that DeepSeek has experienced “several” cyberattacks over the past few weeks that have been increasing in “intensity.”

A US AI National Security Concern or Control?

The US has framed its action against Chinese tech firms as a matter of AI is a national security lifeline, saying the reason to put restrictions on AI, semiconductor, and telecom companies. DeepSeek’s rapid expansion, seemingly in just one week, has apparently triggered a similar response.

This isn’t a new American strategy when dealing with national security and AI, or competitors. When TikTok gained popularity, US officials labeled it as a national threat despite users’ support.

Now, DeepSeek is threatening OpenAI’s place, the US is once again invoking the national security card. While data security concerns may be valid, many see this as an effort to maintain US control over the global AI market by restraining and deterring foreign competition.

In parallel, the US, and American users, are largely overlooking its own AI threats to national security, driven by data collections practices from Big Tech giants such Meta and Google to train their AI models.

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