Washington: The United States has heightened its concerns about the safety of advanced artificial intelligence technology, warning countries around the world about what it describes as possible misuse by Chinese firms.
According to officials, the US State Department has sent instructions to its embassies globally, asking diplomats to share concerns with partner nations about certain Chinese companies, including DeepSeek. The warning focuses on claims that these firms may be using methods to replicate advanced American AI systems.
At the center of the issue is a process known as distillation. This allows smaller AI models to learn from the outputs of more powerful systems. US authorities believe this method could be used to copy technology without direct access to the original systems, raising questions about intellectual property protection.
The move follows stronger statements from the White House earlier this week. Officials there described the situation as large scale extraction of AI capabilities, alleging that some groups may be using indirect ways to access and learn from leading US models.
American technology companies have also raised concerns with lawmakers. They say that some foreign actors may be trying to use their systems in ways that go beyond normal usage, especially in training rival AI models.
China has rejected the allegations. Representatives from Beijing have said the claims are not based on facts and accused the United States of trying to slow down China’s technological progress. Chinese officials insist they support the protection of intellectual property and fair competition.
The issue comes at a time when competition in artificial intelligence is rapidly growing. Chinese firms, including DeepSeek, have recently introduced new AI models designed to compete with leading global systems, often at lower cost. These developments have drawn attention across the technology sector.
Experts say the situation is complex because the line between legitimate AI training and misuse is not always clear. Techniques like distillation are widely used in the industry, but concerns arise when they are applied in ways that may copy proprietary systems.
The latest US warning signals that artificial intelligence is becoming a key area of global competition. As countries invest heavily in the technology, questions about security, ownership, and fair use are expected to play a bigger role in international relations.
With both sides standing firm, the issue is likely to add further tension to the already sensitive relationship between the United States and China, especially in the fast evolving field of artificial intelligence.