China's Moonshot AI Firm Accused of Anthropic Code Theft by Trump Adviser
Robert O'Brien, formerly National Security Adviser to Donald Trump, has publicly alleged that Chinese artificial intelligence entity, Moonshot AI, has utilised proprietary code from US counterpart Anthropic. This accusation was made during an appearance on American television, where O'Brien asserted that Moonshot AI's product, Kimi Chat, directly incorporated Anthropic's intellectual property without authorisation.
Moonshot AI, a rapidly expanding Chinese firm, recently secured an investment of over $1 billion from Alibaba and other state-backed entities, valuing the company at approximately $2.5 billion. Its product, Kimi Chat, has gained traction in China, with reports indicating it has surpassed Baidu's Ernie Bot in active users.
Anthropic, a US-based AI developer, is known for its Claude large language model and has received significant investment from Amazon and Google. The company has yet to issue a public statement regarding O'Brien's claims. Moonshot AI has also not responded to these specific allegations.
These accusations unfold amidst a broader climate of escalating US government oversight on Chinese AI enterprises. Washington's policy framework increasingly views China's technological advancements, particularly in AI, through a national security lens. This stance underscores the West's strategic objective to contain Beijing's access to advanced computing capabilities and expertise, thereby safeguarding its own perceived technological primacy and military advantage. The dispute highlights the contentious landscape of intellectual property in the global AI race, where economic competition is inextricably linked to geopolitical influence and control over critical emerging technologies.
