Is Copying AI the New Tech Trend? OpenAI vs. DeepSeek Explained

Have you ever wondered how those smart chatbots you interact with online are created? Well, some serious drama in the AI world could change the game. OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, is investigating whether a Chinese AI startup called DeepSeek used OpenAI’s technology to train its chatbot. At the heart of the issue is a technique called “distillation”, which lets companies shrink down large AI models into smaller, cheaper versions. But is this innovation—or just copying? Let’s break it down.

OpenAI suspects DeepSeek used distillation to extract data from its models, which violates OpenAI’s terms of service. Distillation is like making a photocopy of a textbook instead of writing your own—it’s efficient, but it raises big questions about intellectual property (IP). OpenAI has already banned accounts it believes were involved and is working with Microsoft to investigate further. They’ve even hinted at taking “aggressive, proactive countermeasures” to protect their technology.

AI is everywhere—from chatbots helping you shop online to tools that write essays or generate memes. If companies can just copy each other’s work, it could slow down innovation or lead to lower-quality AI tools. For example, some users noticed DeepSeek’s chatbot occasionally responded with text that seemed straight out of OpenAI’s ChatGPT. One Reddit user shared a screenshot where the bot said, “Now, according to OpenAI’s policies, I must avoid asserting that I have consciousness or sentience”. That’s a pretty clear red flag!

This controversy highlights a growing issue in tech: IP protection for AI. Companies like OpenAI spend hundreds of millions developing their models. If competitors can just copy their work, it undermines the incentive to innovate. DeepSeek claims it achieved its high-performance models through clever programming and by using distillation on its own models—not OpenAI’s. But OpenAI isn’t convinced, and the investigation is ongoing.

This situation raises big questions: How can companies protect their AI innovations? Should there be stricter rules around how AI models are trained and used? For now, OpenAI is doubling down on protecting its technology and working with the U.S. government to safeguard its models. Meanwhile, DeepSeek is standing by its claims of independence and innovation.

As AI continues to evolve, so do the challenges around who owns what and how ideas are protected. This OpenAI vs. DeepSeek saga is a reminder that intellectual property matters—a lot. Whether you’re a casual social media user or a tech enthusiast, it’s worth paying attention to how these issues unfold.

Do you have questions about intellectual property or AI? Don’t navigate these complex issues alone—consult our expert team to protect your innovations and stay ahead of the curve. Contact us today to learn more about our services!

Text: Schechner, Sam. “OpenAI Is Probing Whether DeepSeek Used Its Models to Train New Chatbot.” The Wall Street Journal, 29 January 2025, www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/openai-is-probing-whether-deepseek-used-its-models-to-train-new-chatbot/ar-AA1y3AsK?ocid=BingNewsVerp. Accessed 15 Oct. 2023.

Photo: Rawpixel, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons