The White House has announced a plan to bolster its cooperation with US artificial intelligence (AI) firms in response to concerns raised over industrial-scale campaigns by foreign actors, primarily from China, attempting to steal advancements in AI. Michael Kratsios, the Director of Science and Technology Policy, disclosed in an internal memo that recent intelligence suggests that these foreign entities are employing tactics to exploit American companies.
Kratsios detailed that these firms are utilizing a method known as distilling to replicate AI technologies created by US companies. A spokesperson from China's US embassy in Washington DC countered these accusations, stating that the nation's advancements stem from its own efforts combined with international collaboration.
The memo highlights the administration's goal to systematically undermine American research and development and access proprietary information from US tech firms. To combat such activities, the White House plans to implement four main strategies:
1. Share more insights with US AI companies regarding the tactics used and actors involved in the distillation campaigns.
2. Strengthen coordination efforts with these companies to enhance defenses against such coercive tactics.
3. Develop and promote a set of best practices aimed at identifying, mitigating, and addressing these thefts.
4. Explore how the White House can hold foreign actors accountable for distilling US AI technology.
While no specific actions against these foreign entities were outlined in the memo, the White House has encouraged US firms to remain vigilant. As methods evolve to detect and fully neutralize such distillation efforts, Kratsios emphasized that foreign companies reliant on these techniques should be wary of the integrity and reliability of any AI models they produce.
In March, Anthropic reported distillation attempts from three Chinese laboratories—DeepSeek, Moonshot, and MiniMax—indicating that these groups are actively pursuing methods to mimic their AI models. OpenAI echoed these claims, specifically naming DeepSeek as a company allegedly replicating its technology.
While a representative of China's embassy in the US pointed out the unfair suppression of Chinese firms, arguing that China's growth is a result of diligence and international partnerships, the memo positioned the theft of AI technology as a critical issue that the US government must address.
Kratsios detailed that these firms are utilizing a method known as distilling to replicate AI technologies created by US companies. A spokesperson from China's US embassy in Washington DC countered these accusations, stating that the nation's advancements stem from its own efforts combined with international collaboration.
The memo highlights the administration's goal to systematically undermine American research and development and access proprietary information from US tech firms. To combat such activities, the White House plans to implement four main strategies:
1. Share more insights with US AI companies regarding the tactics used and actors involved in the distillation campaigns.
2. Strengthen coordination efforts with these companies to enhance defenses against such coercive tactics.
3. Develop and promote a set of best practices aimed at identifying, mitigating, and addressing these thefts.
4. Explore how the White House can hold foreign actors accountable for distilling US AI technology.
While no specific actions against these foreign entities were outlined in the memo, the White House has encouraged US firms to remain vigilant. As methods evolve to detect and fully neutralize such distillation efforts, Kratsios emphasized that foreign companies reliant on these techniques should be wary of the integrity and reliability of any AI models they produce.
In March, Anthropic reported distillation attempts from three Chinese laboratories—DeepSeek, Moonshot, and MiniMax—indicating that these groups are actively pursuing methods to mimic their AI models. OpenAI echoed these claims, specifically naming DeepSeek as a company allegedly replicating its technology.
While a representative of China's embassy in the US pointed out the unfair suppression of Chinese firms, arguing that China's growth is a result of diligence and international partnerships, the memo positioned the theft of AI technology as a critical issue that the US government must address.
