OpenAI has overhauled its security operations to protect its intellectual property from corporate espionage, following claims of having been targeted by Chinese rivals. The changes in recent months include stricter controls on sensitive information and enhanced vetting of staff, according to several people close to the $300bn artificial intelligence company. The San Francisco-based start-up has been bolstering its security efforts since last year, but the clampdown was accelerated after Chinese AI start-up DeepSeek released a rival model in January. OpenAI claimed that DeepSeek had improperly copied the California-based company’s models, using a technique known as “distillation”, to release a rival AI system. It has since added security measures to guard against these tactics. DeepSeek has not commented on the claims. The episode “prompted OpenAI to be much more rigorous”, said one person close to its security team, who added that the company, led by Sam Altman, had been “aggressively” expanding its security personnel and practices, including cyber security teams. A global AI arms race has led to greater concerns about attempts to steal the technology, which could threaten economic and national security. US authorities warned tech start-ups last year that foreign adversaries, including China, had increased efforts to acquire their sensitive data.

Full report : OpenAI overhauled its security, adding biometric checks in its offices and isolating sensitive info, to protect IP such as model weights from espionage.