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US moves to counter AI technology theft
The White House announced plans to strengthen collaboration with American artificial intelligence firms to block large-scale efforts by foreign actors-primarily China-to steal cutting-edge AI advancements. Michael Kratsios, Director of Science and Technology Policy, revealed the initiative in an internal memo, citing new intelligence on systematic exploitation of U.S. companies.
How foreign actors exploit AI systems
Kratsios described a tactic called "distillation," where foreign firms deploy thousands of accounts to mimic legitimate users of AI chatbots or tools. These accounts then attempt to "jailbreak" or extract restricted model details, which are later used to replicate U.S. technology. The process undermines American research and development while accessing proprietary data, according to the memo.
China denies allegations, defends innovation
A spokesperson for China's U.S. embassy dismissed the accusations as "unjustified suppression" of Chinese companies. "China's progress stems from its own dedication and mutually beneficial international cooperation," the representative stated, adding that the country is evolving from a manufacturing hub into a global innovation center.
White House strategy
Kratsios outlined four measures to combat malicious exploitation but did not disclose specific actions against foreign entities. A White House spokesperson declined further comment. Meanwhile, Kratsios warned that foreign models built on stolen foundations would lack reliability and integrity as detection methods improve.
Industry confirms ongoing threats
Leading AI firms like OpenAI and Anthropic have reported facing distillation campaigns. Earlier this year, Anthropic identified three Chinese labs-DeepSeek, Moonshot, and MiniMax-as actively copying its models. OpenAI has separately accused DeepSeek of technology theft. None of the three labs responded to requests for comment.
DeepSeek's rapid rise and challenges
Launched last year, DeepSeek quickly gained popularity among users. The company claimed its model cost only a few million dollars to develop-far less than the billions spent by competitors. However, the chatbot suffered a major outage last month, and a new version is expected soon.
Geopolitical context
The announcement comes ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's planned visit to China in May, adding tension to already strained technological and trade relations between the two nations.
