David Sacks claims that Chinese AI company DeepSeek may have used OpenAI’s data to enhance its own capabilities, prompting concern from U.S. officials.
In a recent interview on Fox, David Sacks, who holds a notable position as the AI and crypto “czar” for former President Donald Trump, made significant allegations against the Chinese AI company, DeepSeek. Sacks claimed that there is “substantial evidence” suggesting that DeepSeek has engaged in a manner akin to theft by using knowledge gleaned from OpenAI’s AI models. He interpreted this process as DeepSeek distilling responses from OpenAI to enhance its own AI capabilities. “I don’t think OpenAI is very happy about this,” Sacks remarked, although he did not specify the source of the evidence he referenced.
Emerging rapidly in the AI landscape, DeepSeek has gained prominence due to its highly effective models and free chat applications, which have gone viral recently. This surge in popularity has caught the attention of U.S. government officials, particularly with their apps reportedly reaching the top of the Apple App Store over the weekend. The National Security Council, the principal advisory body for the President on foreign policy and national security, is currently assessing the potential ramifications of DeepSeek’s applications.
Furthermore, the U.S. Navy has been proactive in its response to these developments, having issued a ban on the use of DeepSeek’s AI tools, citing “potential security and ethical concerns” associated with their deployment. As scrutiny intensifies on DeepSeek, the discourse surrounding the intersection of AI, national security, and ethical practices continues to evolve, highlighting the complexities and challenges facing regulatory bodies and businesses alike in this advancing technological landscape.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/28/david-sacks-claims-theres-substantial-evidence-that-deepseek-used-openais-models-to-train-its-own/ – This article supports David Sacks’ allegations that DeepSeek used OpenAI’s models to train its own AI, comparing the process to theft.
- https://www.computing.co.uk/news/2025/ai/openai-deepseek-stealing-ip – This article corroborates OpenAI’s accusations against DeepSeek for allegedly using OpenAI’s proprietary models to train its AI system.
- https://www.computing.co.uk/news/2025/ai/openai-deepseek-stealing-ip – It provides details on how DeepSeek’s actions might have violated OpenAI’s terms of service by using distillation techniques.
- https://www.noahwire.com – This is the source of the original article, though it does not provide additional external corroboration.
- https://www.80.lv/articles/openai-claims-deepseek-stole-its-intellectual-property-to-train-their-ai-model – This article discusses OpenAI’s claims of intellectual property theft by DeepSeek and highlights the irony given OpenAI’s own legal issues.
- https://www.80.lv/articles/openai-claims-deepseek-stole-its-intellectual-property-to-train-their-ai-model – It mentions David Sacks’ comments on the alleged distillation process by DeepSeek.
- https://www.reuters.com – Reuters is mentioned as a source for information on the National Security Council’s review of DeepSeek’s implications, though a specific URL is not provided.
- https://www.bloomberg.com – Bloomberg is referenced for a source discussing OpenAI and Microsoft’s investigation into accounts believed to belong to DeepSeek.
- https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/01/apple-app-store-top-apps/ – This hypothetical URL would provide information on top apps in the Apple App Store, though specific data on DeepSeek’s apps is not available.
- https://www.navy.mil/News/Press-Releases/ – This URL could potentially host information on the U.S. Navy’s ban on DeepSeek’s AI tools, though specific details might not be available.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative is recent, dated January 2025, and discusses current events involving DeepSeek and OpenAI, indicating high freshness.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
The quote from David Sacks appears to be original to this context, but without further verification, it’s difficult to confirm if it’s the first use. No earlier references were found online.
Source reliability
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative originates from TechCrunch, a well-known and reputable technology news publication.
Plausability check
Score:
7
Notes:
The claims about DeepSeek using OpenAI models are plausible given the context of AI development and competition. However, specific evidence is not provided, making verification challenging.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative is fresh and from a reliable source, but the plausibility of the claims about DeepSeek using OpenAI models cannot be fully verified without additional evidence. The quotes appear original but lack earlier references.
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