Anthropic Accuses Chinese AI Firms of Stealing Claude's Secrets

• Anthropic alleges that three Chinese AI firms, DeepSeek, Moonshot AI, and MiniMax, engaged in coordinated "distillation attack" campaigns to extract information from its Claude model.
• The Chinese firms reportedly circumvented Anthropic's service restrictions by using commercial proxy services, generating millions of interactions with Claude through fraudulently created accounts.
• Both Anthropic and OpenAI have raised concerns about distillation practices, framing them as potential national security threats, particularly regarding the use of AI for offensive cyber operations and mass surveillance.
• The accusations come amid growing tensions between the US and China over AI technology, with discussions about export controls and the competitive lead of American AI corporations.

A Princess's Perspective on AI Intrigue

Hylians, gather 'round. Princess Zelda here, reporting on a tale of digital skulduggery that's almost as convoluted as finding the Triforce. It appears that Anthropic, a prominent AI company, has accused three Chinese firms—DeepSeek, Moonshot AI, and MiniMax—of trying to pilfer the secrets of their AI model, Claude. As someone who's spent a fair amount of time protecting Hyrule from Ganon's schemes, I must say, this sounds like a plot worthy of the Sheikah.

The Great Distillation Disaster

What's this "distillation attack," you ask? Imagine trying to squeeze the knowledge of the ancient Sheikah Slate into a rusty old pot. That's essentially what's happening. These firms are allegedly using specially crafted prompts to extract capabilities from Claude, like trying to learn the Ballad of the Wind Fish from a broken ocarina. The stakes are high, and the narrative is reminiscent of the article GameStop Eyes Colossal Acquisition Is the Retail World About to Explode Like a Supernova where the retail world is facing monumental changes and disruptions, this situation in the AI sector carries a similar sense of high-stakes and potential upheaval.

Sneaking Past the Guardians

Anthropic claims these firms sidestepped their restrictions by using commercial proxy services. It's like using a Moblin disguise to sneak into Hyrule Castle – clever, but not exactly honorable. Apparently, they generated over 16 million exchanges with Claude using around 24,000 fake accounts. That's a lot of data mining, even for someone who spends their days studying ancient artifacts.

National Security or Competitive Angst?

Now, here's where things get interesting. Both Anthropic and OpenAI are framing this as a national security threat, warning of potential misuse by authoritarian governments. It reminds me of the constant vigilance required to keep the Master Sword out of the wrong hands. But some are questioning whether this is genuine concern or simply a way to protect America's AI dominance. As they say in Hyrule, "Sometimes, the line between light and shadow is blurred."

Echoes of the Past

It's not the first time such accusations have surfaced. OpenAI has also pointed fingers at DeepSeek for similar activities. Back in 2025, some even noticed striking similarities between China's DeepSeek model and ChatGPT. It seems like everyone's trying to find their own version of the Triforce, seeking ultimate power in the digital realm.

The Tech War Heats Up

This all comes amid growing tensions between the US and China over AI technology. There's talk of stricter export controls on advanced AI chips, and reports of DeepSeek training its AI on Nvidia's Blackwell chip, seemingly defying these controls. The White House is even launching an initiative to promote American AI interests abroad. It's a complex web of intrigue, and as always, the fate of the world—or at least, the AI landscape—hangs in the balance. Remember, Hylians, "Wisdom, Courage, Power. Balance is key."