OpenAI accuses China's DeepSeek of stealing AI technology

February 13, 2026 - 22:31

OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, has formally accused the Chinese artificial intelligence company DeepSeek of stealing its proprietary AI technology. The allegations, detailed in a recent legal filing, suggest that DeepSeek may have unlawfully accessed and utilized OpenAI's core code and architectural designs to accelerate the development of its own competing models.

According to the claim, internal analysis by OpenAI's security team identified striking similarities between its systems and DeepSeek's publicly released models. The filing points to specific, allegedly replicated elements in the model's underlying structure and training methodologies, which OpenAI asserts are unique to its research and protected intellectual property. This move marks a significant escalation in the already intense global competition for AI supremacy, bringing longstanding tensions over technological espionage and innovation into sharp focus.

Industry observers note that the outcome of this dispute could set a major precedent for how intellectual property is defended in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence. It underscores the challenges companies face in protecting their research investments while operating in a highly competitive international landscape. DeepSeek has not yet issued a public response to the specific allegations. Legal experts anticipate a complex and closely watched proceeding, as both entities are considered leading forces in the AI sector from their respective regions.