News / Korea / yonhap_finance
US Accuses Chinese AI Firms of Illicitly Copying American Technology
Technology Services · Internet Software/Services · yonhap_finance · 2026-09-09
The US government has accused several Chinese AI companies of stealing proprietary technology from American firms, escalating tensions ahead of upcoming summits.
What Happened
Allegations of Theft: The US government has formally accused six Chinese AI firms, including DeepSeek and Alibaba, of maliciously copying proprietary technology from American companies. Officials identified major US players such as OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google as primary targets of this intellectual property infringement.
Misuse of Distillation: Chinese firms are reportedly using 'distillation' techniques to leverage high-cost American AI models to train their own, significantly reducing their development expenses. US authorities warn that this practice enhances China's military and cyber capabilities, posing a direct threat to national security.
Diplomatic Impact: This announcement comes just before critical US-China summits and bilateral discussions on AI cybersecurity, adding significant friction to diplomatic relations. The timing complicates the preparations for President Xi Jinping's upcoming visit to the United States.
Current Status: The Chinese Embassy in Washington has yet to provide an official response to these accusations. US officials have long raised concerns over Chinese technology theft, and this latest development may lead to further regulatory crackdowns on cross-border AI collaboration.